Week 12’s top stories: Stunners, letdowns and blowouts fill postseason action
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Coast’s 12 postseason teams fell to seven survivors after mixed results.
- Gulfport surged to rematch control, averaging 42.4 points per game this season.
- Hancock upset West Jones for first road playoff win; Ocean Springs fell again.
The Mississippi Coast entered the week with 12 postseason teams and came out with that number just about sawed in half.
Gulfport, Picayune, Pascagoula, Stone and Pass Christian all enjoyed runaway victories, but others had stressful and downright disappointing nights.
Here are the top stories from first and second round playoff games around South Mississippi.
7A is cursed
The Coast’s highest class may not get a better chance to find playoff success than the one it squandered Friday.
Ocean Springs had its season ended by Brandon for the second year in a row and the third time in the last four years. The Greyhounds carried a 10-6 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Bulldogs jumped ahead 13-10 with a 45-yard touchdown. Ocean Springs had a chance to respond, but a midfield fumble ended its season in the first round for the second time in Jake Bramlett’s three-year tenure.
D’Iberville was on the road but considered a favorite against a Petal team that had losses to both Pearl and Northwest Rankin. The Warriors made four trips inside the red zone and came away with only three points to show for it, however.
Only Gulfport lived through the night from a region that is now 2-10 in the first round over the last three seasons.
Hawks history
Hancock traveled to Laurel and delivered one of the biggest upsets of the weekend. The Hawks defeated West Jones, 21-14, to secure the program’s first-ever road playoff win and first postseason win since 2017.
Quarterback Kaison Koenenn is putting together one of the more prolific individual seasons the school has seen and was the catalyst again as he was responsible for all three of Hancock’s touchdowns. That includes the go-ahead touchdown toss to Aiden Harvanek in the fourth quarter.
Hancock is 4-3 on the road this year compared to 1-3 at home. The Hawks dropped each of their first four games of the season, but have won five of the last seven under first-year coach Michael King.
Who will reach South State?
Seven Coast teams remain alive with an opportunity to reach the state’s semifinal round.
Gulfport gets a rematch with Petal after losing the first meeting in September, 25-24, when the Panthers converted a winning two-point try in the final minute. Since then, Gulfport is 8-0 with an offense producing 42.4 points per game.
The Coast is guaranteed to be represented at South State in 6A with three teams competing across two games. Picayune will host Hancock and Pascagoula will look to play spoiler at Hattiesburg.
Stone meets Laurel and its five-game win streak in the second round of the 5A bracket for the second year in a row. The Tomcats have their own seven-game streak to protect.
Pass Christian and Poplarville will both have their hands full in 4A. The Pirates have their winningest team in nearly 100 years of football but face their biggest challenge yet, when they travel to face 12-0 Columbia.
The Hornets will meet district foe McComb again and with a sour taste to wash away. Poplarville led the early October matchup late in the fourth quarter, but McComb scored in the final minute to steal the win.
7A results
No. 1 Gulfport 45, No. 4 Northwest Rankin 7
No. 3 Brandon 13, No. 2 Ocean Springs 10
No. 2 Petal 14, No. 3 D’Iberville 3
No. 1 Oak Grove 52, No. 4 Biloxi 20
6A results
No. 1 Picayune 55, No. 4 George County 7
No. 2 Pascagoula 41, No. 3 Terry 7
No. 3 Hancock 21, No. 2 West Jones 14
No. 1 Hattiesburg 42, No. 4 Pearl River Central 0
5A results
No. 1 Stone 35, No. 4 Sumrall 7
4A results
No. 1 Pass Christian 49, No. 2 Morton 22
No. 3 Poplarville 43, No. 1 Forest 34
