By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Arch-rivals St. Patrick and St. Stanislaus will each have their third head football coach in three seasons this coming season.
And it turns out that the new Fighting Irish leader factored into that equation with the Rock-A-Chaws recently as well.
Officials at St. Patrick announced Thursday morning that Nate Encrapera has taken the helm of the Fighting Irish gridiron program. Encrapera most recently served as the head coach at St. Stanislaus for five seasons before stepping down before the beginning of last season. He did not coach in Mississippi last season, but is returning to the “Catholic League” ranks after a year off.
“I am humbled and excited to be named the new head football coach at St. Patrick High School,” Encrapera said, in a social media release Thursday. “St. Patrick’s athletics has seen a great deal of success, winning numerous championships in recent history. We look forward to bringing this standard of excellence to the football field.”

Encrapera replaces Oscar Glasscock, who lasted just one season at SPHS. The Fighting Irish went just 2-7 under Glasscox last season and failed to make the Class 3A South State playoffs.
Glasscox came to SPHS from Cullman High in the Alabama prep football ranks. Now, the Fighting Irish will turn to someone more familiar with the play in South Mississippi to lead the charge.
Encrapera went 28-25 overall in those five seasons at SSC, and led the Rocks to the state playoffs all five seasons. In his final year with the Rocks, in 2022, Encrapera guided SSC to the second round of the Class 3A South State playoffs before falling to eventual state champion Raleigh in a hard-fought 30-21 decision.
St. Stanislaus went 7-5 that season, and that playoff win marked the first for the Rocks since 2017.
Encrapera was replaced by Tim Lala, who lasted just one season at SSC before stepping down and heading to St. Martin as defensive coordinator.

Tate Thigpen is now in place as the head coach at SSC. He served as offensive coordinator for the Rocks under Lala as SSC finished with 9-2 record and won the Region 8-3A championship.
Trey Bailey was the SPHS head coach for several seasons before Glasscox took over for him. Now, Encrapera takes over.
“I wish to thank the school’s administration and staff for their support and confidence,” Encrapera concluded. “The school’s mission to educate scholars, train disciples and support champions creates a special environment that I look forward to being a part of. Go Irish!”