South MS high school football way-too-early top 10 for 2025: Is this Ocean Springs’ year?
It’s never too early to talk football.
The high school season is just seven months away and promises to be another good one following last year’s race to Hattiesburg that ended in Poplarville’s first state championship.
A shakeup in regions and classifications has rearranged the landscape, bringing more drama and new storylines to the 2025 season.
We’ll get ahead of the action with a much-too-early look at who the top 10 teams from the Mississippi Coast will be come fall.
1. Ocean Springs
Sharroid Whitehead was 7-1 as the starting quarterback last fall and the defense dominated during region play. Whitehead returns and the defense is stacked with returning starters.
Sack master Bryant Ausmer is gone, but the Greyhounds have their top four tacklers back along with top corner Eric Johnson. Ocean Springs has the daunting task of a five-peat, but a more experienced roster than it had last season.
2. Gulfport
The Admirals bring back a top-tier defense along the Coast led by Andre Peters at middle linebacker. D’Solomon Stallion, Lawrence Robinson, and Javon Anderson round out a deep front seven.
Dane Sullivan returns for a second year as starting quarterback and he’s flanked by power back Cooper Crosby. Gulfport will remain the primary challenger to the four-year hold the Greyhounds’ have on the region throne.
3. Pascagoula
Silas Corder leaves as the school’s all-time leading passer, but the Panthers may be in good hands with rising sophomore Jason Glaude. He’ll have the services of Amarie Jackson, Darius Carter and DJ Nunnery, which make up arguably the top skill group on the Coast.
Pascagoula is loaded defensively, as well, returning four star safety Tylan Wilson, leading tacklers Jarrad Loper and Jonathan Shelby and 23 combined pass defenses between Tomareo Johnson and Kaiden Street.
4. Poplarville
The Hornets finally brought home a Gold Ball last season and are preparing for its first year as the hunted. Running back Ty Keys is one of the nation’s top 2027 prospects and could be relied on more often at quarterback going forward.
Ayden Harmon and Jobe Lambert lead a defense that returns numerous starters at every level, including the addition of defensive lineman Sam LeJeune from St. Stanislaus. Poplarville is returning to Region 4 with heavyweight Columbia and reigning Region 6 champ McComb.
5. Picayune
The heart, soul and engine of the 2024 Maroon Tide is out with the graduation of Darrell Smith. But if there’s one thing the state has come to learn about Picayune, it’s never to count out the Tide.
The backfield will be brand new, but Picayune brings a nasty defensive line featuring Makon Burnette and four star prospect Nolan Wilson. A host of new starters will be tasked with defending four consecutive region titles.
6. Gautier
The post-Trey Irving era begins coming off the school’s first-ever state championship game appearance. Athletes still abound in the likes of Kasin Thomas, Latrell Pogue, Solomon Baggett and even more on defense.
But the Gators have been moved up to 6A, where they will once again contend with Picayune for a district title, as well as Pascagoula.
7. D’Iberville
The Warriors ended their brief playoff drought thanks to dramatic improvements defensively and the play of two-way athlete Jordan Walley. D’Iberville returns Walley at quarterback and corner back along with Jayquan Havard and Jeremiah Johnson in the backfield.
The defense returns a number of starters and is bolstered further by the addition of former St. Martin defensive lineman Caleb Estrada.
8. West Harrison
Could a step up the classification ladder be the key for West Harrison? After missing the postseason by one game in each of the last three years, the Hurricanes are continuing their quest for extra football at the 7A level.
They’ll have two of the Coast’s most talented players in running back Jordan Stapleton and defensive tackle Jazear Carter. The former has over 3,000 career rushing yards and the latter racked up over 100 tackles as an interior lineman in ‘24.
9. George County
The Rebels are fresh off their first playoff win since 2007, but are walking into a brand new era after the departure of their five star quarterback, two leading receivers, the top five tacklers and the head coach.
George County does have Brandon Gautier in the backfield primed for a big season after racking up 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns and a host of defensive backs with starting experience. A new district with West Jones and Hattiesburg will prove to be a challenge.
10. Vancleave
Wyatt Adams was a rare 1,000-yard passer for the Bulldogs in 2024 and he’s back with Kyle Capers and his 1,000 rushing yards. The two have an anchor at tackle in Dalton Toothman, who is currently one of the hottest recruits in the class of 2026.
The graduation of linebacker Scottie Toothman is a key loss, but several defensive starters return in his wake. A new district for Vancleave means a new opportunity to snag the school’s first-ever region title.
Just outside
- Biloxi
- Hancock
- Pass Christian
This story was originally published January 30, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
