By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BAY ST. LOUIS — The Bay High Tigers have qualified for the Class 4A South State playoffs three out of the past four years under the direction of head coach Jeremy Turcotte.
Turcotte’s crew, however, enter the new season on a four game losing streak as the Tigers look to improve on last year’s 4-7 record.
“Our guys are used to our expectations,” Turcotte said, in a recent interview. “We didn’t meet our expectations last year. We’ve gone back to the basics and paying more attention to detail and discipline.”
Bay High slipped past Moss Point 37-34 to open Region 8-4A play, but that would be their only league win last year. The Tigers then fell in consecutive weeks to Greene County, Poplarville and Pass Christian to round out the regular season and although that win over MPHS did give them the fourth and final playoff spot in the loop Bay was hammered by McComb 55-7 in the opening round of the Class 4A South State playoffs.

“These seniors we have I have been with since they were in the eighth grade,” Turcotte added. “They know what we expect. We’ve made the playoffs three out of the last four years and I feel like we have raised the standard a little. All that’s left for this bunch is to win the district.”
Turcotte has 14 seniors returning with their eyes set on that top seed. Quarterback Xander Ladner is back for his fourth season behind center and his classmate and backfield partner running back Jaylen Antoine is also back in the mix.
Ladner threw for 16 touchdown passes last year while Antoine ran for over 1,200 yards and totaled 11 touchdowns on the ground plus he caught four of those scoring strikes from Ladner.
Bay High will have to overcome the loss of standout lineman Dank Brown, who too his talents to Stanford University.

The Tigers got off to a slow 0-2 last year, and they face the same pair of opponents to begin this year in Class 1A Resurrection plus longtime city rival St. Stanislaus.
Bay High opens at home against RCS, after watching the Eagles overcome a 20-point deficit in the second half to pull out a 29-26 win.
Four out of the five teams in Region 8-4A will once again qualify for the state playoffs.