By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — St. Patrick will have its third head football coach in the past three seasons this year.
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.
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.
“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. “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 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.
In his first season at the helm of the Fighting Irish, Encrapera will turn to Johnathan D’Angelo to guide the offense from his quarterback spot.
Encrapera will have the luxury of having seven seniors start on each side of the ball along with a solid mix of underclassmen meshing into the mix.
The Fighting Irish will open the season against Sacred Heart out of Hattiesburg and also face Resurrection in non-region action before getting Region 8-3A play underway. St. Patrick hopes to compete for a Class 3A South State berth while battling league foes West Marion, Perry Central, Tylertown and Encrapera’s old squad arch-rival St. Stanislaus.
Four of the five teams in the loop will qualify for the state playoffs.

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!”