Gautier football’s historic season comes to hard end in Hattiesburg against state power
Gautier High School football’s historic run came to an end in Hattiesburg.
Despite a furious late-game rally, mistakes proved insurmountable for the Gators in a 28-21 loss to West Point on Friday in the 5A state championship game.
Gautier had three first-half possessions that moved into West Point territory — and ended without points. After opening the game with a quick 69-yard touchdown drive, the Gators followed with a missed field goal, fumble and interception on their next three opportunities. West Point scored touchdowns following each of the three empty possessions.
And with a chance to cut into the deficit just before the half, Gator quarterback and 5A Mr. Football Trey Irving was sacked on fourth and goal.
“We had chances early in the game,” Gautier coach Marc High said. “And it kind of got away from us.”
Gautier trailed 28-7 when Irving connected with Kainen Rush for a 46-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, and the Gators made it a one-score game when Kasin Thomas scored from five yards out with 19 seconds left in the game.
The Green Wave ate more than 30 minutes off the clock and pounded Gautier for 263 rushing yards en route to winning their statewide-best 13th Gold Ball. Shamane Clarke earned MVP honnors for his 168-yard, three-touchdown performance.
Irving completed 16 of his 20 pass attempts for 229 yards and led the Gators on the ground with 89 yards, despite losing 26 on sacks.
Latrell Pogue added 73 rushing yards and opened the game with an 11-yard score.
“This is the most resilient team I’ve ever coached,” High said. “We’re proud of them. Now they know the next step they got to take.”
It was Gautier’s first-ever appearance in the state championship game after rattling off 11 consecutive wins and capturing the school’s first South State title.
Legacy established
An empty trip home doesn’t equate to failure for Gautier.
The senior class leaves as the most successful in the school’s 28-year history. Their seven playoff wins over the past three years are more than every preceding Gautier team combined.
They were the first group of Gators to reach the semifinal round of the postseason when they did so in each of the past two seasons, and became the first to top that hill when it defeated Brookhaven last week.
“We love (our seniors),” High said. “That door is always open. They know they can be thirty years old... If you show up, you’re still a Gator. You’re a Gator for life.”
Gautier is graduating a number of key players, including Irving and inside linebacker and Southern Miss signee Fred Nicholson, but the championship window hasn’t closed.
Pogue rushed for more than 600 yards as a freshman and will be joined in the backfield by Thomas and the 678 yards he produced as a junior.
The Gators are young on defense, as well, with key players Jakori Rogers and Gabriel Millender set to return. They’ll have the benefit of working under a senior class that has set a new tone for the program.
“The kids understand they you just got to have determination,” High said. “You have to work constantly year round. They’ve done that and it’s been special to see them do that.”
Gautier ends the year with 12 wins, matching the program record set in 1998.
This story was originally published December 7, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
