Ocean Springs star scores four times as Greyhounds knock off unbeaten opponent
Solomon Baggett is healthy for the first time in a long time, much to the misfortune of those attempting to tackle him.
The senior running back made four trips to the end zones of Buddy Singleton Field while leading Ocean Springs (6-1, 2-1) to a 42-21 trouncing of previously undefeated D’Iberville (6-1, 2-1).
The Greyhound scored on runs of 45 yards and 25 yards, as well as at the goal line for both his first and his fourth touchdowns. The final one came with less than three minutes on the clock and put away a game that had been separated by just one score early in the third quarter.
“He’s really feeling good right now,” Ocean Springs coach Jake Bramlett told the Sun Herald. “He’s a dude. He’s hard to tackle, and he’s going to fight for extra yards and make big plays. You have to keep your eyes on him every play.”
Baggett’s deadly blend of field vision and balance has led to over 400 rushing yards and six touchdowns in his last eight quarters of football. Friday was his fifth straight game over the 100-yard mark.
He dealt with minor but nagging injuries that limited his production early in the season and missed all of his junior campaign while at Gautier in 2024.
Now that No. 13 is a full go, even his own coaches are having a hard time slowing him down.
“He’s ready to go, he wants the ball every single play,” Bramlett said. “We have to take it out of his hands sometimes.”
Which isn’t exactly the worst thing in the world considering the weapons sophomore quarterback Chalmers Berglind has around him, even with the Greyhounds playing without their leading receiver Ian Michael Harlan.
Ocean Springs opened the game with a 44-yard touchdown pass from Berglind to Sharroid “Chop” Whitehead down the right sideline. Later in the half, Lanny Waltman punched in a score from inside the five-yard line, capitalizing on a blocked punt and building a two-score lead after the contest’s back-and-forth opening minutes.
The teamwide performance was just what Bramlett hoped to see after the Greyhounds had their 25-game district winning streak snapped by Gulfport last week, and it started with the improved play of the five men lined up on the ball.
“(The offensive line) did not do a great job last week,” Bramlett said. “Really struggled against a good defensive front, but I think (D’Iberville) has one of the better ones in our region if not the state. They responded to us questioning them and questioning their physicality and kept asking us to run certain plays. All of them were in between the tackles. They wanted to keep pounding it in there. Very proud of those five guys up front and the two guys playing tight end, as well.”
Baggett’s eye for finding a running lane to cut through and his ability to eat up yards after contact paired well with the front holding up against a stout three-man line on the other side.
“Offensive line has been amazing,” Baggett said. “I think I’ve gone for 100 every week so I really can’t be thankful enough for them.”
D’Iberville got a dazzling performance from Jordan Walley, who kept the Warriors in the game for much of the night with his feet.
Walley beat a defender at every level of the defense on his first 15-yard score on the Warriors’ opening drive. In the second quarter he raced every Greyhound 55 yards down the middle and won with yards to spare. Chan Harvey did his part early in the second half, taking a hand off 71 yards for six and bringing the score to 28-21, Greyhounds.
D’Iberville even got the ball back and moved into Ocean Springs territory with a chance to tie. It elected to punt on fourth and long from the 37-yard line.
The Warriors were down two scores again next time they possessed the ball, courtesy of Baggett, but lost their second fumble of the night near the goal line.
It’s the second straight week the Coast’s 7A region has gotten a shake-up at the top. Gulfport now stands in first place with a 2-0 record after handling St. Martin, 40-0.
The Admirals would have to lose twice for the Greyhounds to have a shot at winning the region, but Bramlett’s group is focused on what they can control: homefield advantage in the postseason.
“We’re going to play like we’re 0-0,” Baggett said. “This win, we’ll celebrate it, but Monday morning we’re right back at it.”
Ocean Springs will get a chance to follow the action from home next week with its bye approaching. D’Iberville will take to the road to face St. Martin.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 11:05 PM.
