By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Veteran Pascagoula head football coach Lewis Sims picked up a big honor Friday afternoon.
Sims, who just finished his 13th season at the helm of the Panthers, was selected as an assistant coach on the Mississippi staff for the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic 2024 edition.
The Mississippi High School Activities Association made the official announcement Friday afternoon.
“To be chosen to coach in this game is one of the highest honors you can achieve as a coach in Mississippi,” Sims said, soon after the news was made official. “Coaching alongside living legends and being able to coach the best players in the state is humbling. I am sure thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started building the 2024 Mississippi team with some of the best men in the game of football.”

The game is set for Saturday, Dec. 14th and is scheduled to be contested on Alabama soil this year.
Sims will serve as the defensive Coordinator under Mississippi head coach Tony Vance of Hattiesburg High on the Magnolia State squad. Ironically enough, Sims and his Panther went to the Hub City and upset home-standing Hattiesburg 7-6 in the opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs last season.
Other assistants in the 38th annual affair this year will be Oak Grove’s Drew Causey, Petal’s Marcus Boyles, La DonTaylor of Charleston, Tyrone Shorter of Louisville, Derrick Hooker of Hollandale-Simmons and Southaven’s Randall Montgomery.
Last year, Mississippi proved to be quite hospitable hosts against Alabama in the 37th annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.

The visiting squad took advantage of six Mississippi turnovers plus a botched punt attempt, as Alabama took a 26-17 win at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in this annual affair. It marked the fourth straight win for Alabama, and Alabama leads the overall series 26-11.
Sims has won over 100 games as a head coach in his career, including 88 with the Panthers. He is by far the ‘Dean” of prep football coaches in the “Southern Six” as his tenure at PHS is twice as long as any other head coach in that area.
Before coming to Pascagoula, Sims was 25-11 with three playoff appearances in three years at his alma mater Moss Point High from 2008-2010 before crossing over Jefferson Street and heading south to Pascagoula High. He is the first to serve as head football coach at both schools.
He is 13-3 overall in The annual “Battle of the Cats” as a head coach on both sides of the field.
Also on Friday, George County head coach James Ray was named as an assistant for the South squad in the annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Game. That game will take place on Saturday, Dec., 21st at historic Miler Stadium in Gulfport once again this year.
Cory Reynolds, who guided the West Jones Mustangs to the Class 6A state title last year, is the South head coach.