Gulfport vs. Tupelo: Play-by-play of Admirals’ incredible MS Class 7A title win

GOOD. THE KICK IS GOOD. GULFPORT WINS, 21-20.

Here comes the point-after

1st and 10 from T33: TOUCHDOWN!!!!! Hail Mary connects. Nettles to Stubbs for 33 yards. 20-20 tie. Pending PAT

1st and 10 from T33: Timeout Gulfport. The Admirals’ final timeout

1st and 10 from 50: Nettles pass complete for 17 yards. 2 seconds remain.

1st and 10 from G38: Nettles pass complete for 12 yards. 9 seconds remain.

G 1st and 10 from G28: Pass incomplete. Penalty on the play. Holding on the defense. 14 seconds remain.

Tupelo kicks off. Gulfport return to G28. 20 seconds remain in the game

TUPELO 20, GULFPORT 14. 27 seconds left in the game

2nd and G from G04: Hill keeper for 4. TOUCHDOWN. Kick no good.

1st and G from G04: Hill keeper for no gain. Timeout Gulfport. Gulfport’s second timeout of the half. 31 seconds left to play.

3rd and 1 from G15: Bobo run for 8. Flags on the play after Bobo was forced out. Personal foul on Gulfport

2nd and 5 from G19: Hill keeper for 4

2nd and 5 from G19: Timeout Tupelo. Tupelo’s first timeout. 1:15 left in the game.

1st and 10 from G24: Bobo run for 5

2nd and 1 from G29: Hill keeper for 5

T 1st and 10 from G37: Hill keeper for 9

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 14, 2:27 left in the game.

4th and 8 from G36: Punt partially blocked. Tupelo ball at G37

4th and 3 from G41: Offense staying out. False start on Gulfport

3rd and 1 from G43: Crosby run for loss of 2

2nd and 2 from G42: Crosby run for 1

1st and 10 from G34: Crosby run for 8

2nd and 6 from G23: Nettles pass complete to Stubbs for 11

G 1st and 10 from G19: Crosby run for 4

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 14, 5:38 left in the game

4th and 8 from T41: Punt rolls dead at G19

3rd and 13 from T36: Bobo run for 5

2nd and 17 from T33: Hill keeper for 4

1st and 20 from T30: Hill keeper for 3

1st and 10 from T40: Bobo run for 38. Flag on the play. Holding on the offense.

3rd and 3 from T27: Hill keeper for 13

2nd and 6 from T24: Hill keeper for 3

T 1st and 10 from T20: Bobo run for 4

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 14, 10:28 left in the game

4th and G from T11: Field goal no good.

3rd and G from T4: Crosby keeper, faked handoff to Nettles, tackled for loss of 7

3rd and G from T4: Timeout Gulfport. First timeout of the half.

2nd and G from T4: Crosby run for no gain

END OF THIRD QUARTER: GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 14

1st and G from T4: Crosby keeper for no gain

4th and 1 at T6: Crosby keeper for 2

Penalties on both teams after the play. Offsetting unsportsmanlike fouls.

3rd and 20 from T25: Nettles moves up in pocket, finds Hales for gain of 19

2nd and 10 at T15: Nettles sacked for loss of 10

1st and 10 at T15: Crosby run for no gain

3rd and 4 at G40: Beautifully drawn up pass to Crosby. Gain of 45

2nd and 5 at G39: Crosby run for 1

G 1st and 10 at G34: Nettles pass to Hales for 5

Tupelo kickoff. Gulfport returns to Gulfport 34

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 14, 4:27 left in third quarter

3rd and 5 from G8: Bobo rush for 8. TOUCHDOWN. Kick is good

2nd and 7 from G10: Hill keeper for 2

1st and 10 from G13: Bobo rush for 3

4th and 4 from G24: Hill keeper for 11

3rd and 11 from G31: Hill keeper for 7

2nd and 17 from G37: Hill keeper for 6

2nd and 7 from G27: Hill keeper for 27. TOUCHDOWN. Flag on the play. Holding on the offense

1st and 10 from G30: Bobo rush for 3

4th and 5 from G35: Bobo rush for 5

3rd and 3 from G33: Hill keeper for loss of 2

2nd and 7 from G37: Hill QB keeper for 4

1st and 10 from G40: Bobo run for 3. Tupelo is using Hill at QB

2nd and 10 from T36: Bobo run for 23

T 1st and 10 from T36: Hill QB keeper for no gain

Gulfport kickoff returned to T36

THIRD QUARTER: GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7

2 minutes remain on the halftime clock

Total yards: Gulfport 237, Tupelo 128

Of note, Cooper Crosby has 16 carries for 160 yards and 2 touchdowns for Gulfport. Jaeden Hill has 10 carries for 61 yards for Tupelo.

Estimated kick time for second half: 9:40 p.m.

HALFTIME: GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7. Tupelo will receive 2nd half kickoff

3rd and 1 from G19: Crosby rush for 3. END OF HALF

2nd and 1 from G19: Nettles pass incomplete

G 1st and 10 at G10: Crosby rush for 9

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7, 0:51 left in first half

4th and 13 from G38: Punt returned to G10

4th and 13 from G38: Timeout Gulfport

3rd and 10 from G35: Williams keeper for loss of 3 yards

2nd and 10 from G35: Williams pass tipped at the line. Incomplete

1st and 10 from G35: Williams keeper for no gain

1st and 10 from 50: Williams pass incomplete. Penalty on the play. Pass interference on Gulfport

1st and 10 from T27: Williams pass to Raines for 23

T 1st and 10 from T14: Hill rush for 13

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7, 2:53 left in first half

4th and 4 from T48: Punt out of bounds at T14

4th and 4 from T43: Gulfport lined up like it was going to go for it. Everyone broke for the sideline and a flag was thrown. Gulfport penalized for simulating snap. Punt team coming out

3rd and 4 from T43: Nettles pass deflected under heavy rush

2nd and 8 from T47: Crosby rush for 4

1st and 10 from T49: Crosby rush for 2

G 1st and 10 from G41: Nettles pass incomplete. Had a wide open receiver well downfield on a wheel route. Flag on Tupelo for holding.

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7, 4:39 left in first half

4th and 5 from T29: Punt fair caught at G41

3rd and 5 from T29: Williams pass incomplete. Punt team coming out

3rd and 5 from T29: Timeout, Gulfport

2nd and 8 from T26: Hill rush for 3

T 1st and 10 from T24: Hill rush for 2

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7, 6:22 left in first half

4th and 22 from G37: Punt fair caught at T24

3rd and 22 from G37: Nettles pass incomplete. Punt team coming out

2nd and 37 from G22: Nettles pass to Hales for 15

1st and 20 from G39: Bad snap picked up by Nettles. Flag on the play. Intentional grounding.

1st and 10 from G49: Crosby big gain called back. Holding on Gulfport

NOTE: Cooper Crosby has 12 carries for 141 yards with 7:45 left in the first half

1st and 10 from G49: Timeout, Tupelo

1st and 10 from G38: Crosby rush for 11

2nd and 7 from G22: Crosby rush for 16

1st and 10 from G19: Crosby rush for 3

G 1st and 10 from G04: Crosby rush for 15

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7, 9:25 left in first half

4th and 6 from G45: Punt downed at G04

3rd and 6 from G45: Pass incomplete. Punt team coming out

3rd and 6 from G45: Timeout Tupelo

2nd and 6 from G45: Bobo no gain

1st and 10 from G49: Bobo rush for 4

T 1st and 10 from T28: Williams keeper for 23

G kick from G40. Tupelo returns to T28

GULFPORT 14, TUPELO 7, 11:38 left in first half

G 1st and 10 at G46: Crosby rush for 54 yards. TOUCHDOWN. Platt Kick good

2nd and 10 at T47: Hill carry FUMBLE recovered by Gulfport at G46

END OF FIRST QUARTER: GULFPORT 7, TUPELO 7

1st and 10 at T47: Hill no gain

2nd and 6 from T26: Williams pass to Lindsey for 20

1st and 10 from T22: Hill rush for 4

T 1st and 10 from T10: Hill rush for 12

GULFPORT 7, TUPELO 7, 1:45 left in first quarter

4th and 8 from G47: Punt brought back to T38. Flag on the play. Holding on Tupelo.

3rd and 8 from G47: Nettles pass incomplete. Punt team on the field

2nd and 8 from G47: Nettles pass incomplete

G 1st and 10 from G45: Crosby carry for 2

GULFPORT 7, TUPELO 7, 2:42 left in first quarter

4th and 9 from T28: Punt out of bounds at Gulfport 45

3rd and 9 from T28: Williams pass incomplete. Punt team coming out

2nd and 8 from T29: QB keeper loses 1

T 1st and 10 from T27: Boby rush for 2

GULFPORT 7, TUPELO 7, 4:27 left in first quarter

4th and 3 from G37: Punt fair caught at Tupelo 27

3rd and 3 from G37: Pass incomplete. Punt team coming out

2nd and 8 from G32: Nettles keeper for 5

1st and 10 from G30: Crosby 2 yard rush

G 1st and 10 from G13: Nettles pass for 17 yards to Morgan.

Tupelo to kick from T40. Fake reverse on return doesn’t work. Ball at G13

GULFPORT 7, TUPELO 7, 6:14 left in first quarter

3rd and 5 from G15: Hill rush for 15 yards. TOUCHDOWN. Kick good.

2nd and 8 from G18: Hill rush for 3 yards

T 1st and 10 at G20: Hill rush for 2 yards

Gulfport kick returned 70 yards to the Gulfport 20

GULFPORT 7, TUPELO 0. 7:59 left in first quarter

2nd and 5 from T20: TOUCHDOWN GULFPORT. Crosby carry for 20 yards. Platt kick good.

2nd and 3 from T18: Penalty for holding

1st and 10 from T25: Crosby rush for 7 yards

4th and 1 from T31: Nettles handled a high snap, Crosby gain for 6 yards.

3rd and 5 from T35: Nettles complete to Morgan for 4 yards.

2nd and 10 from T40: Crosby rush for 5 yards.

1st and 10 from T40: Nettles pass incomplete.

3rd and 12 from G20: Huge gain. Nettles complete to Hales for 42 yards to Tupelo 40.

2nd and 10 from G20: Nettles rolls out, sacked for a loss of 2 yards.

G 1st and 10 from G20: Crosby carry for no gain.

T from T40: Tupelo kicks off. Gulfport fair catch.

FIRST QUARTER: GULFPORT 0, TUPELO 0

8:05 p.m.: The teams have taken the field, play-by-play will begin shortly.

8:03 p.m.: It was a long drive, but the Gulfport crowd has arrived in force. Loud cheers as the Admirals’ starters are introduced.

7:57 p.m. Tupelo won the coin toss and deferred its choice to the second half. Gulfport will receive the opening kickoff and drive toward the open end of Davis Wade Stadium.

7:54 p.m.: Gulfport’s Cooper Crosby was just honored at midfield, to a loud ovation from the Gulfport side, for being one of the game’s honored scholar-athletes.

7:52 p.m.: Gulfport captains Andre Peters III, Jamarion Davis, Cooper Crosby and Parker Nettles are on the sideline, and we are 15 minutes away from kickoff.

7:37 p.m.: We are 30 minutes away from the main event: Gulfport vs. Tupelo for the Class 7A state championship.

7:07 p.m.: Pregame warmups are underway. The final game of the MHSAA season, the Class 7A final between Gulfport and Tupelo will begin at 8:07 p.m.

6:43 p.m.: East Webster has captured the Class 2A championship. Our (unofficial) projected start time for the Class 7A final between Gulfport and Tupelo is 7:58 p.m.

6:40 p.m.: There is 1:09 left in the Class 2A final and East Webster has taken possession with a 28-16 lead.

6:35 p.m.: An official with the MHSAA says that there is generally a 75-minute window between when one game goes final and when the next begins. If that holds, we are looking at the Class 7A final starting close to 8 p.m.

6:30 p.m.: There is still 3:14 left in the Class 2A final, with East Webster ahead 21-16 and driving.

6:04 p.m.: The third quarter of the Class 2A final is complete, with East Webster holding a 21-16 lead over Heidelberg. We still have one quarter of play, a postgame awards ceremony and pregame warmups to go before the main event: The Class 7A final between Gulfport and Tupelo.

5:33 p.m.: The third quarter is underway in the Class 2A final.

5:07 p.m.: The 2A final has reached halftime with Heidelberg leading East Webster, 16-14.

4 p.m.: The Class 2A final, originally scheduled for 3:30 p.m., kicked off at 4 p.m. Gulfport and Tupelo are currently scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m.

ORIGINAL STORY

The Coast is closer to a top-level MHSAA football championship than it has been in nearly two decades.

Gulfport will carry an 11-2 record and a 10-game winning streak into the Class 7A final today, where it will face defending champion Tupelo (13-1).

Just how long has it been since the Coast was this close? The last team to reach a top-level state final was George County, which played for the Class 5A championship in 2007. And how long has it been since a Coast team brought hope a top-level championship? The last to do it was Moss Point, which brought home the 4A title in 2000.

Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. and we will provide a running play-by-play. The most recent play will be listed at the top, with previous plays below. In the meantime, here is what you need to know before the Admirals take the field in the final game of the Mississippi high school football season.

Pregame reading

GULFPORT’S ‘COME TO JESUS’ MOMENT: In the days between a deflating loss to Petal and a trip to War Memorial Stadium in Pascagoula, the Admirals had a sit-down. It changed everything.

NEXT STOP, STARKVILLE: Gulfport’s Cooper Crosby will play his final high school game in the college stadium he will soon call home. Here’s more about the player coach Blake Pennock says you can “put up there with anybody that has ever donned the Blue and Orange.”

ABOUT TUPELO: The Tupelo Golden Wave will arrive at the 7A final Saturday with 27 wins in 28 games, a two-time Mr. Football winner, a boatload of SEC commits and, of course, a Gold Ball won 12 months ago.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Going to the game? Staying home and following it from there? Here is what you’ll need to know.

THE SOUTH STATE FINAL: Gulfport made an emphatic statement, with a 40-7 annihilation of Brandon in the final game played at historic Milner Stadium.

THEY WARNED PETAL: “We owe them,” Gulfport standout running back Cooper Crosby told the Sun Herald before the Admirals’ playoff game against Petal. “This time, we’ll be ready.” Were they ever.

THE DISTRICT TITLE WIN: The Admirals took a big lead and survived an incredible D’Iberville rally to capture the 4-7A championship, Gulfport’s first regional title since 2019.

THE GAME THAT CHANGED IT ALL: Gulfport linebacker Deandre Williams wreaked havoc and sowed terror into the Pascagoula backfield during the Admirals’ 53-13 road stomping of the Panthers.

This story was originally published December 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM.