By CURTIS ROCKWELL

(Featured photo: Ocean Springs standout senior Eric Moore is pictured in recent action. Photo by Bobby McDuffie)

GULFPORT — The annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football Game is celebrating a big milestone this year, and prep football fans in South Mississippi can be on hand once again to help celebrate.
The 75th annual affair is set for Saturday here in this. port city at historic Milner Stadium. The game is set to kick off at 11:30 a.m.
And the South squad is well represented by a host of players from the “Southern Six”, as 16 senior standouts from 10 different high schools dot the roster of the area squad.
And, the defense of the South squad is made of a dozen players that played their prep ball for one of the 24 “Southern Six” squads, including a pair of linebacker teammates from Ocean Springs in Eric Moore and Trace Carter.

“I think it says a lot about what we’ve got going on on the coast and what the direction where we’re trying to as a program by having those two guys selected for this team,” Greyhound head coach Jake Bramlett said. “Those two guys stepped up for us this season and filled roles that were a big key to our success and no they get to finish up their high school careers in a prestigious all-star game and play on the coast one more time.”
Gulfport head coach Blake Pennock is the head coach for the South team this season.
“I’m excited about it,” Pennock said Tuesday. “We’ve got some really good players on our roster and a great coaching staff and I’m really looking forward to it.”
A pair of Pennock’s players are on that “Southern Six” loaded defensive unit as well in defensive backs Prince Cottonham and Damon Felder.

Here are the 16 players from the “Southern Six” on the South squad this year:

Dylan Moran, Hancock, QB

Cam Joseph, Gulfport, WR

Terry Patton, Pass Christian, WR

Tristen Fortenberry, Pascagoula, OL

Prince Cottonham, Gulfport, DB

Damon Felder, Gulfport, DB

Niquis Ratcliff, Picayune, DB

Gabe Miller, East Central, DL

Angel McGee, Gautier, DL

Jayden Acker, Pass Christian, DL

Jabari McWilliams, Picayune, DL

Jacob Bradford, St. Stanislaus, DL

Aden Dedeaux, Poplarville, DL

Jeffrey Hopgood, Hancock, LB

Trace Carter, Ocean Springs, LB

Eric Moore, Ocean Springs, LB

Also, Gulfport head football coach Blake Pennock will be the head coach for the South Team in the annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football game. His assistants include Picayune head coach Cody Stogner, Hancock head coach Neil Lollar and Gulfport asst. coach Zack Green