MS Coast rivalries renewed, playoff paths get tougher after latest MHSAA reclassification
The Mississippi High School Activities Association has released the new classifications for 2025-27 after a short delay in the finalization of enrollment numbers.
The new regions will reshape athletics on the Mississippi Coast for the next three academic years, bringing old rivals back together and creating competitive districts.
Here are the new regions for South Mississippi schools in football — which will be the same for basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball — and notes on changes.
Region 4-7A
- Biloxi
- D’Iberville
- Gulfport
- Harrison Central
- Ocean Springs
- St. Martin
- West Harrison
The Coast’s highest region will now be seven teams deep, making a playoff trip an even tougher proposition in a district where enrollment numbers have the greatest range of any class.
West Harrison has been called up from 6A and is now Region 4-7A’s smallest school, according to the Mississippi Department of Education’s 2023-24 figures (the MHSAA has not released updated enrollment numbers). West Harrison’s 1,154 students is 754 short of the district’s largest school at Ocean Springs.
Region 4-6A
- Gautier
- Hancock
- Long Beach
- Pascagoula
- Pearl River Central
- Picayune
Region 3-6A
- Forest Hill
- George County
- Hattiesburg
- Jim Hill
- Terry
- West Jones
Significant change was brought to Region 4-6A with the call up of Gautier from 5A to replace West Harrison and swapping George County to Region 3 for Pearl River Central.
This reunites natural rivals Picayune and PRC, who have met 26 times as region opponents in football, and brings together arch-enemies Gautier and Pascagoula as region-mates for the first time since 2019-2020.
The changes also place George County in a region with South State powers Hattiesburg and West Jones.
Region 4-5A
- East Central
- Northeast Jones
- Purvis
- Stone
- Vancleave
- Wayne County
Stone, Vancleave and East Central sit tight in Region 4-5A and are joined by 4A call-ups Purvis and Northeast Jones to replace Gautier and Region 3-bound Laurel.
Region 8-4A
- Bay High
- Forrest County Ag.
- Greene County
- Moss Point
- Pass Christian
Region 8-4A brings Forrest County Ag. to Bay High, Greene County, Moss Point and Pass Christian.
Region 7-4A
- Columbia
- Lawrence County
- McComb
- Poplarville
- South Pike
The one notable shift at 4A is Poplarville’s move back to Region 7, which is now deeper than ever before with the addition of McComb and the Hornets with Columbia. McComb and Columbia both won district championships on the gridiron this year. Poplarville defeated Columbia 21-20 in the second round of the playoff last week and now faces McComb in a postseason that has become a preview of seasons ahead.
Region 8-3A
- Presbyterian Christian
- St. Patrick
- St. Stanislaus
- Tylertown
- West Marion
Region 8-1A
- Lumberton
- Resurrection
- Richton
- Stringer
- Taylorsville
NOTE: Coast teams are in bold in districts where there is a mix of Coast and non-Coast teams.
