David

Consensus favorite Tupelo plays the turnaround team Starkville in the north. After beating the Jackets early season 24-17, the Wave now must do it again against a team that has been hot since losing that game. Defensive minded Tupelo allows less than a touchdown a game, Starkville hasn’t been challenged their last five games, squeaking into the playoffs. I’m going with the team with momentum on their side, the visiting Yellowjackets, 38-35. Brandon started the season on top of everybody’s poll, returning two special running backs to a team with playoff experience and maybe a chip on their shoulder from losing last year’s championship game. Losing one of those RBs mid season seemed to slow their roll in a loss and a tight win. They will face the new kids with (maybe) the most exciting player Bray Hubbard. No one man team, but pretty dependent on good QB play, Ocean Springs hasn’t been challenged save for a two minute span of their last playoff game. Talent all over the field for both teams. I’m going with the home team Greyhounds, 42-35.

If they do, they’ll win.

Not to argue, just trying to figure out how this game will work out. Both teams know their opponent, so the nerves won’t be as big a part. Maybe that means less penalties, maybe it means a little more chipiness. There’s no doubt the coaching advantage seems to be on the side of the maroon, but as for more offensive weapons, might be for the Gators. Some would say there wasn’t much defense the last game, but Picayune had not seen such a pure passing offense. Gautier has played against several run oriented offenses. Now that the Yune coaches have seen them in person, they can make changes. Gautier knew what to expect, and couldn’t stop it. Penalties and turnovers, as usual, decide more than anything. Slight chance of rain that would hurt the passing offense. Don’t know much about the injury situation. Vegas has it even money right now, with the home field being the slightest advantage if any. I’m leaning toward the more experienced Picayune, but wouldn’t bet the boat.

Gautier probably grew up a little in the pressure cooker of that first game. If they (or their coaches) we’re going to show immaturity, it would have been there. While I’m sure the experience and the home field will both work in the Tide’s favor, I don’t think that Gautier comes in wide eyed or nervous.

This game once again matches two of the most talented players in the state, along with the supporting cast on each team that makes this another classic. Which team, which coach makes the adjustments learning from their game three weeks ago to at least slow down these prolific offenses? Picayune seems to be in just a bit of a lull, or is it just playing better playoff competition? Gautier continues to score on everybody, but might have had the easier path so far. I literally don’t have a clue, and if I wasn’t watching my Ocean Springs Greyhounds, I’d definitely be driving over to Picayune. Don’t miss this game if you’re anywhere close.

Correction noted: Hubbard officially ran the ball 25 times for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns, an 11 ypc average. Unstoppable when the game got tight at 21-19 in the 4th quarter, carrying the ball for 8 consecutive plays on the critical drive and scoring on the 20 yard TD. He also played safety on 3rd down situations throughout the game. Am I bragging a little too much? I don’t think so!

I can see that. Obviously, a talented team on the field, yet making some critical mistakes that cost em this game. The interceptions ended any chance of the comeback, and both teams had killer penalties. Those refs wanted to be sure they got their work in. There were probably six or seven face mask calls. I know that Oak Grove will be back on top soon. Great crowd, and it was so weird with our band being in Seattle for a competition.

Talk about a 4th quarter! O.G. scores two touchdowns and a safety in 29 seconds, then Hubbard takes over, running the ball eight or ten consecutive times, including the twenty yard TD. Then two interception returns for TDs by the defense to seal the win. Sets up two games next week on the Coast, with three of the best ever athletes from our area, Hubbard, Irving, and Dowdell. Now, which game does a football fan go to, including Stone Cty playing for the 4A south championship. Great time to see great football.

Oh, I loved Coach Mangum, and kind of butted heads with him once when he wanted my kid to play jv quarterback instead of trying out other positions where he could get varsity playing time. Son dropped football for full time baseball and a state championship ring. A case where the outcome was perfect for everyone. Ive gotten so used to Goula playing us with the same talent, only to play terrible, that I feel sorry for the kids. Sims must have some pretty bad pictures of that school board to still have his position. High school football fans in south Mississippi should be in heaven next Friday night, getting to choose between three of the best athletes the Coast has ever seen. Throw in Stone too. Doesn’t matter which way you drive, these will be three heavyweight games. Check out Bray Hubbard’s stat line that carried O.S. on to the next round. Hoping that you pick the best game next week, and then maybe on to Hattiesburg.

Great summary of the game, and then you throw in the dig of the year while the Goula coach is home brining his turkey. I love it, and hope that my Greyhounds never gets on your bad side. Now, which is next week’s premier game in south Missippi. We’d like to think it’s in Ocean Springs, but hard to say.

Redemption, not revenge. After the disappointment and second guessing of losing in the second round of the playoffs last year, Hubbard took over the game this year with 253 rushing yards and three touchdowns to lead the Ocean Springs Greyhounds to a 42-25 victory over nemesis Oak Grove (congrats on a great game, Warriors). On to the next round, and the talented Brandon Bulldogs in O.S. next week. Come down for the best show in the state.

Since last year, the O.S. offensive line has gotten bigger, without losing any speed. LT is a sophomore at about 280. Check him out if he keeps improving. They don’t have the TE that caught so many passes, but that means that they are keeping the TE in the line to help with blocking. I don’t think they will blow O.G. off the line because of their size, but O.S. is quick to the edge with Hubbard, the RBs, and the jet sweep WRs. They’ve added a few 9th graders lately in the backfield and out wide. I hope that the O.G. coaches aren’t listening if I’m helping with their game plan.

Last year, the Hounds went into this big game kind of in awe, both players and coaches. They got outcoached after taking the early lead, with onside kicks, trick plays, and especially the defensive changes that brought everybody up into the box and shut down Hubbard’s run game. I’d like to think that the coaches are better prepared, and I know that the returning players, which O.S. has plenty of, won’t be taken by surprise. I could be wrong. Waiting for kickoff.

I thought I’d move the discussion about the big dogs of Missippi football back to the top of the queue. For the first time really al year, I’m nervous about the outcome of an Ocean Springs game. They’ve imposed their high flying offense on every opponent so far, but now will face a defense that is full of highly recruited talent, with a coach who can scheme a game plan. I’m not sure if that’s enough to shut down the Greyhounds and Bray Hubbard, so I’m expecting 28 on the home side of the scoreboard. That means that to win, O.S. has to play well enough to hold the Warriors to three touchdowns or so. How do they do that? The best way I can think of is to put your best player in his future position at safety. That’s right, Bray plays half of the defensive plays, has an interception, six pass breakups, and a bunch of big hits coming up to stop the run. Whether that affects his offense, I don’t know, but I’m picking Ocean Springs over Oak Grove, 28-24. Safe driving for our Oak Grove neighbors, stay warm, and we’ll see y’all tonight.

We’d be honored to have you in Ocean Springs. You could even sit on the home side and it wouldn’t kill ya to pull for the underHounds!

While I agree with most of your post, including the uneven rankings of other districts over #4, Gulfport did beat Germantown 21-10 early in the season. Football seems to be the one sport that Coast teams can’t stay competitive in. There are numerous state champions from district 4 in every other sport. Not sure just why that is, but I’ll take the natural beauty of the Coast any day, if that’s the reason why the teenagers don’t concentrate on football.

They look to be the strongest defense in the south. Ocean Springs won’t reach their 40+ points per game average, so the key will be how well the O.S. defense comes to play. They also have some talent, and common opponents have been pretty close in scoring against the two. Might come down to O.S. playing Alabama safety commit Hubbard in the defensive backfield in critical situations. That hasn’t happened much, though he had two interceptions in limited play there last week.

I really had not thought about the fact that O.S. probably has more players who went through this playoff pressure last year and have returned. The defense front seven seems to be playing with more leadership. Could be a factor this week, especially at QB with Hubbard in his third year of post season play.

Bobby Hall also said that because the Coast was so bad in football that anybody could win district there, though he never managed to win district there. Lost a lot of my respect dogging Biloxi on his way out the door after not putting in any effort except to cash his (huge) check. But if the question is one of the best in MS history, he’s on the list.

Losing Humphries hurt, but you wouldn’t know it by watching. Several guys have filled in, especially Grey and the freshman, Watson. I’d say it’s because of the improved line blocking late in the year. As far as not getting competitive games, I’ve said for years now that O.S. needs to upgrade their pre district schedule, and Clinton was a good addition. The fact that Hattiesburg and George Cty weren’t competitive was a surprise. I know I don’t have to tell anybody, but Hubbard’s passing has actually improved this year, even with slightly less talented WRs. If it comes down to coaching, I give Pennock a better grade this year after learning a lesson in last year’s game. Im hoping anyway.

Their offense has been playing better, but I don’t know if it’s because they got their regular QB back. Your coach will have the film on what they’re doing different than last time, and can make his adjustments. I’m really hoping that the O.S. Coach Pennock learned a lot about playoff strategies in that second half last year. I was on a plane to California watching the game streaming, and was not impressed that we didn’t react to their pressing the line to stop our running. A couple of RPO plays to get the WRs downfield seemed obvious, and I’ve noticed that our offense this year has really mixed up the play calls more. I don’t think we need to bring in any revenge factor to out kids, because losing to a good team last year won’t affect this game. I do know that they’ve been looking forward to this one for 12 months, though. Hopefully, getting to the playoffs and these big games becomes a regular thing for us.

Your team seems to be playing better since my Ocean Springs guys came up there that first game, but Starkville is too. Y’all won by a touchdown the first time you played them. I’m sure you want to run the ball and keep their offense off the field. I’m picking Clinton, so I’m also rooting for you. C’mon Arrows!

That’s fair, and my point about O.S. having learned from losing last year to O.G. doesn’t mean just the players. Their coaches didn’t make adjustments after getting the lead, but maybe will have some surprises ready this time. Your statement about team speed might be true, but if you haven’t seen Hubbard’s speed and quickness, I’m not sure I’ve seen a player with what I would call “football speed” Gotta be seen to appreciate. He’s playing better this year with less weapons around him. I bet that Warrior QB is a good runner too.

I thought we’d get more comments on the top classification in the state. Maybe more as we move closer to the four compelling games with lots of back stories. Three of the games are repeats, and that means that these guys know each other well. The other is the monster rematch from last year’s playoffs between Oak Grove at 9-2 and undefeated Ocean Springs. Predictions are useless, but I’ll try. Starkville might be the hottest team in the state, winning their last five to squeak into the playoffs. Clinton won early in the season by 10. I’ll go with the Arrows again 35-31. Best team in the state in most eyes, Tupelo hasn’t had a close game except Starkville including beating Madison Central in a shutout blowout. This time, it’s the Golden Wave 38-14. Brandon started the season picked to win it all. They’re still on track for that, but haven’t looked great late. Warren Central couldn’t cross the goal line in their only loss, to Brandon earlier. Brandon has been here more often, so their experience wins it, 27-24. Ocean Springs has played on offense probably 75% of the time, and haven’t been behind more than a handful of times. Player of the year, Bray Hubbard could not have played better. They learned a lot in their loss in the playoffs last year. Perennial state championship contender Oak Grove was young to start the year, and it showed. They’ve come on since, and have matured into another great team. This game might come down to who gets the ball last. I think it’s going to be… 42-42 at the end of regulation. You pick it.

Of course I’ll be in Ocean Springs for that barn burner, but this should be a good one too. What am I saying, they’re all good at this point. Gautier- Vancleave in a rematch makes Jackson county the host for two great games.