By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — The 84th “Battle of the Cats” will take on even more historical context Friday night.
When longtime arch-rivals Moss Point and Pascagoula face off at War Memorial Stadium, it will mark the first time ever that two former Moss Point Tiger standouts face one another as head coaches in that series. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Pascagoula head coach Lewis Sims, a former linebacker for the Tigers, is entering his 14th year at the helm of the Panthers and his 17th season as a head coach in Jackson County, which makes him by far the dean of prep football coaches in the “Southern Six”.
Sims is the longest tenured football head coach ever at PHS and also is the all-time winningest coach on the gridiron for the Panthers. Sims is 88-68 at Pascagoula after crossing over Jefferson Street just before the 2011 season. Prior to that, he guided his alma mater Moss Point for three seasons going 25-11 and beating the Panthers all three years. His overall record is 113-79.
“The Battle of the Cats is iconic,” Sims said recently. “Being on both sides, I understand the motivation of each side. The players today are much more close and connected than they were in my day.” 

Sims and his squad will welcome in one of his former pupils when the Tigers come to town, as it will mark the first game for Julius Bridges as head coach at his alma mater Moss Point.
Bridges, who played tight end for the Tigers before graduating in 2008. Sims was an assistant for the Tigers during Bridges’s playing days.
Bridges, who also serves as the Tigers’ head baseball coach, excelled on both the gridiron and the diamond during his days playing for his alma mater.
Bridges has been an assistant football coach at MPHS for the past 12 years, and handled the offensive line duties for the past three seasons before being elevated to the top spot.
He becomes the first MPHS alumnus to be head coach of the Tigers since Sims in 2010.

“I’m ready for this opportunity,” Bridges said, in a recent interview. “I understand the history and I understand the culture of Moss Point football. I’m looking forward to bringing my coaching style, enthusiasm, and dedication to the team to help us achieve success together.”
The game will serve as the season-opener for both the Panthers and Tigers.
The Panthers are led by senior quarterback Silas Corder, a Southern Miss signee, and his classmate Jaylon Parnell, a linebacker who has committed to Louisiana Tech.
Corder needs about 100 yards through the air to become Pascagoula’s all-time leading passer.
The Tigers are led by versatile standout Kevon Ford who will step in at quarterback and play in the secondary on defense as well. He is a three year starter. Also, the Tigers get back monstrous lineman Deshawn Feazell as the 6-foot-3, 330-pounder returns for his senior season as well as classmates in wide receiver/cornerback Con’darius McCorvey and linebacker Ja’Keleen Murray.

Since leaving Dantzler Street, Sims has become the winningest head coach in PHS history and the Tigers are now on their sixth head coach in 14 seasons since Sims’ departure. Moss Point has had just three winning seasons over that time span as well.
Bridges is Moss Point’s third head coach in as many seasons. The once mighty Tigers are coming off their worst season in 36 years.
Sims was asked if he thought the annual “Battle of the Cats” was still as relevant as it once was.
“Of course I do!” Sims concluded. “Both communities still want bragging rights, no matter what. Hearing the old stories at the yearly Rivalry Breakfast inspires the players and coaches to focus that much more on bringing home the Battle of the Cats Trophy.”