Ocean Springs vs. Gulfport for King ‘o da Coast (with apologies to Picayune)

[David]

Finally, Ocean Springs faces a team that can go toe to toe with them. The Hounds will be without a couple of RBs, but that offense hasn’t missed a beat. Gulfport, with its lone loss to Picayune, has improved throughout the season. Who ya got?

Edited October 26, 2022 by David

[maroontide06]

Give me Ocean Springs and yes apologies are accepted.  There's been times in the past when we weren't a coast team, so no offense taken whatsoever.

[Matt]

I'd take OS based solely on last years game and knowing OS is as good or better. Definitely better defensively. Defense just hasn't been giving up points until they loosen up after taking large early leads. However, Gulfport has obviously improved as well, so it should be a great game and a much needed challenge for both teams to prepare for playoffs. I'll pick OS by 3 Td's until I see a  team stop Hubbard and company for more than a half. Good luck!

 

Also, @maroontide06 as a D'ville guy,  you guys have always been a coast team to us. Every season is a battle, whether it's a region game or not. Iron sharpens iron. This season was a different story for my Warriors but glad to see you guys dominating in 5A! Good luck!

[coastfootballfanman]

Give me Ocean Springs fairly comfortably. 

[RUNNINGMAN67]

I'm taking Gulfport in a barn burner

[David]

42 minutes ago, RUNNINGMAN67 said:

I'm taking Gulfport in a barn burner

I was hoping somebody would go with Gulfport, even if I hope you’re wrong. Even as well as O.S. has been playing, there are a few chinks in the armor. First, they will be without their two top running backs, one to a broken leg sadly, and the other after being suspended for a personal foul in the last game. Not sure if that matters with the Oline opening holes for a freshman RB, but it could be a problem with the size and physicality of Gulfport’s Dline. Also, as well as the O.S. defense has played, they have been scored on by a good passing attack in Biloxi, and the most athletic player on the Coast, Norell White at St. Martin. A barnburner game is G’ports best chance, because I’m sure that my Hounds will put up a big number. 

[coastfootballfanman]

12 minutes ago, David said:

I was hoping somebody would go with Gulfport, even if I hope you’re wrong. Even as well as O.S. has been playing, there are a few chinks in the armor. First, they will be without their two top running backs, one to a broken leg sadly, and the other after being suspended for a personal foul in the last game. Not sure if that matters with the Oline opening holes for a freshman RB, but it could be a problem with the size and physicality of Gulfport’s Dline. Also, as well as the O.S. defense has played, they have been scored on by a good passing attack in Biloxi, and the most athletic player on the Coast, Norell White at St. Martin. A barnburner game is G’ports best chance, because I’m sure that my Hounds will put up a big number. 

The key for Ocean Springs is not who their RB is. That position is a plug and play in my opinion for them with their offensive line. As long as Bray Hubbard is on the field, Ocean Springs should win comfortably (by 2+ touchdowns). He is an outstanding player and is probably the best Quarterback from the Coast since Demarious Bilbo in the early 2000's. The Greyhound defense has been really solid this year. If there is an area of concern for the defense, it is their secondary for sure. However, their defensive line and linebackers are one of the better units I have ever seen. Picayune showed how to stymie the Gulfport offense so I think the Ocean Springs defense will have a solid plan in place. 

[David]

28 minutes ago, coastfootballfanman said:

The key for Ocean Springs is not who their RB is. That position is a plug and play in my opinion for them with their offensive line. As long as Bray Hubbard is on the field, Ocean Springs should win comfortably (by 2+ touchdowns). He is an outstanding player and is probably the best Quarterback from the Coast since Demarious Bilbo in the early 2000's. The Greyhound defense has been really solid this year. If there is an area of concern for the defense, it is their secondary for sure. However, their defensive line and linebackers are one of the better units I have ever seen. Picayune showed how to stymie the Gulfport offense so I think the Ocean Springs defense will have a solid plan in place. 

I’m sure that the O.S. coaches have watched that Picayune/G’port game on a loop, and the Admirals can learn from Biloxi film. O.S. has a 9th grade QB that would be fantastic in the backfield and on jet sweeps. The RB that was booted from the last game (as the second guy to react, I might add) is also the starting safety, which will hurt the secondary. Truth is, finishing either first or second shouldn’t matter a whole lot in matching up with region 3. They’re all equal up there. 

[Archer]

I think the lack of another threat running the football is a flaw likely to be exploited against OS at some point.  They're going to have to run the football effectively deeper in the playoffs and I don't think a one-headed attack will be enough.

 

Once Oak Grove locked up Hubbard's wheels last year, it was all over.

[Deonte3455]

I'd like to see Gulfport pull out but don't think they can.

[David]

I thought that this might be a shootout, and boy, was I right, except that Gulfport ran out of bullets. This Ocean Springs offense has taken over from what I thought was a better defense, and I’m not sure I’ve seen a better game plan against a quality team. No punts, no stress. Now, I’m not sure I even want to talk about the defense, except to hope that it was a really good Gulfport offense that put up 33.

[Deonte3455]

11 hours ago, David said:

I thought that this might be a shootout, and boy, was I right, except that Gulfport ran out of bullets. This Ocean Springs offense has taken over from what I thought was a better defense, and I’m not sure I’ve seen a better game plan against a quality team. No punts, no stress. Now, I’m not sure I even want to talk about the defense, except to hope that it was a really good Gulfport offense that put up 33.

If the game would have reset at halftime how confident would you feel?

[David]

2 hours ago, Deonte3455 said:

If the game would have reset at halftime how confident would you feel?

Good question. O.S. got a turnover and scored less than a minute into the second half, but after that long drives by both teams. I’ve seen this Gulfport QB for years now, and he throws a great ball. We had problems stopping them sometimes, but did force a couple of punts during the second half. There was never any doubt that O.S. would score every time we started drives, which usually started at midfield when they tried onside kicks on every kickoff after we returned one in the second quarter. I really don’t know how good Gulfport’s offense is, or is our defense not as good as I thought? Either way, O.S. will score on anybody if last night is any indication. What are your thoughts on how good the Greyhounds are and how far in the playoffs will they go?

[Deonte3455]

4 hours ago, David said:

Good question. O.S. got a turnover and scored less than a minute into the second half, but after that long drives by both teams. I’ve seen this Gulfport QB for years now, and he throws a great ball. We had problems stopping them sometimes, but did force a couple of punts during the second half. There was never any doubt that O.S. would score every time we started drives, which usually started at midfield when they tried onside kicks on every kickoff after we returned one in the second quarter. I really don’t know how good Gulfport’s offense is, or is our defense not as good as I thought? Either way, O.S. will score on anybody if last night is any indication. What are your thoughts on how good the Greyhounds are and how far in the playoffs will they go?

I'm right along the lines with you. I think the offense sell itself. Defense not sure how much they have been truly tested. If ever a time to take the throne it's this year. The competition come playoffs is all big dogs. For the sake of coast football I think championship or nothing is the theme.

[David]

On 10/29/2022 at 5:00 PM, Deonte3455 said:

I'm right along the lines with you. I think the offense sell itself. Defense not sure how much they have been truly tested. If ever a time to take the throne it's this year. The competition come playoffs is all big dogs. For the sake of coast football I think championship or nothing is the theme.

I’m worrying about that defense a little more too, even though the line and the backers are stout, the secondary will be tested. This is the best team I’ve seen come out of the Coast in a long long time. Not at least making it to the big game would be disappointing, and would forever mean that we have to listen to that weak sister narrative. I’m hoping this is just the start of an Ocean Springs dynasty, but would be tough without Hubbard and Pennick. 

[ogwarriorbandman]

OS better get it this year cause next year OG will be loaded! I go back to to competition played and let’s see how it plays out. South 6A should be be interesting to say the least. I would say Brandon has to be the favorite at this point. But even they have looked suspect the last 2 weeks. 

[David]

13 hours ago, ogwarriorbandman said:

OS better get it this year cause next year OG will be loaded! I go back to to competition played and let’s see how it plays out. South 6A should be be interesting to say the least. I would say Brandon has to be the favorite at this point. But even they have looked suspect the last 2 weeks. 

Yeah, O.S. Has a top loaded senior class, but the program itself is getting better, and has talent coming, even if we take a step back at QB. A lot of speculation about whether Coach Pennick hangs around since he’s a Jackson area guy with an eye towards returning. 
 

I know we had this same discussion last year about O.S. stepping up their game to play O.G. or one of those teams. Looks like there’s not much difference in the top four district 3 teams. I’d like to think that our coaches learned a lot in losing last year, in that they didn’t make adjustments in the second half. Our offense has been even better than last year, with an bigger, improved Oline. Looks like there’s even a small chance that O.G. drops to #4 and comes down here first round. In any case, there’s going to be a good team in Ocean Springs next week. Good luck to y’all, and we’ll see you sooner or later. 

[Big Poppa]

30 minutes ago, David said:

Yeah, O.S. Has a top loaded senior class, but the program itself is getting better, and has talent coming, even if we take a step back at QB. A lot of speculation about whether Coach Pennick hangs around since he’s a Jackson area guy with an eye towards returning. 
 

I know we had this same discussion last year about O.S. stepping up their game to play O.G. or one of those teams. Looks like there’s not much difference in the top four district 3 teams. I’d like to think that our coaches learned a lot in losing last year, in that they didn’t make adjustments in the second half. Our offense has been even better than last year, with an bigger, improved Oline. Looks like there’s even a small chance that O.G. drops to #4 and comes down here first round. In any case, there’s going to be a good team in Ocean Springs next week. Good luck to y’all, and we’ll see you sooner or later. 

Watched O.S. 9th grade last week and they looked good,  the kid playing QB is a stud has all the tools to be a very effective replacement for Hubbard next year. I think O.S. has developed a culture in the lower grades to make them a force for years to come. I think reclassification is really gonna help teams like O.S. and Picayune because they won't have to play as many weak district games. May have to cross that Pearl River and play some of those recruiting teams in La.

[David]

42 minutes ago, Big Poppa said:

Watched O.S. 9th grade last week and they looked good,  the kid playing QB is a stud has all the tools to be a very effective replacement for Hubbard next year. I think O.S. has developed a culture in the lower grades to make them a force for years to come. I think reclassification is really gonna help teams like O.S. and Picayune because they won't have to play as many weak district games. May have to cross that Pearl River and play some of those recruiting teams in La.

The O.S. high school varsity has brought up several players from the 9th grade team that was undefeated through their years, including using that QB is a slot, jet sweep guy, and the RB to fill in for losing their stud sophomore RB who broke his leg. Nobody will replace Hubbard, but the Whitehead kid you saw might be the starter next year, even if they have to revise the offense to fit his style. 
 

I agree that they need to upgrade their schedule, and that will be a problem for almost everybody once they only play 5 district games. Some teams will use that as a chance to play weaker teams to build up their record. I’d like to see O.S. upgrade their schedule, even if they lose a game or two early on. Playing Picayune, Oak Grove, and maybe up north with Tupelo and Starkville would make the team better and more prepared for the playoffs. 

[coastfootballfanman]

8 minutes ago, David said:

The O.S. high school varsity has brought up several players from the 9th grade team that was undefeated through their years, including using that QB is a slot, jet sweep guy, and the RB to fill in for losing their stud sophomore RB who broke his leg. Nobody will replace Hubbard, but the Whitehead kid you saw might be the starter next year, even if they have to revise the offense to fit his style. 
 

I agree that they need to upgrade their schedule, and that will be a problem for almost everybody once they only play 5 district games. Some teams will use that as a chance to play weaker teams to build up their record. I’d like to see O.S. upgrade their schedule, even if they lose a game or two early on. Playing Picayune, Oak Grove, and maybe up north with Tupelo and Starkville would make the team better and more prepared for the playoffs. 

I would love to see them play Theodore or someone over in Alabama. Mobile and Baldwin Counties typically play a really good brand of football overall. The spring game battle between Ocean Springs and Theodore was a good one so I would love to see them two play.  

Edited October 31, 2022 by coastfootballfanman

[Archer]

3 hours ago, coastfootballfanman said:

I would love to see them play Theodore or someone over in Alabama. Mobile and Baldwin Counties typically play a really good brand of football overall. The spring game battle between Ocean Springs and Theodore was a good one so I would love to see them two play.  

 

Theodore would woodshed Ocean Springs and probably any team in MS save for maybe Tupelo and perhaps a couple of others with the athletes on defense.  They would ground down OS by the third quarter with their highly physical spread running game.  

 

The better programs in the higher classifications of Alabama are simply on a higher plain than those of Mississippi.  The major differences are they have bigger coaching staffs which allow for more specialization and more advanced schemes.  There isn't an active coach in MS within the same solar system as Mark Freeman and Terry Curtis just to name a couple.

 

You could pick any one of half a dozen schools in the Mobile area alone and run through the higher ranks of MS.