By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

The start of the prep football season this year in South Mississippi is the latest date for season-openers in 17 years with the exception of the Covid altered year of 2020.
In 2007, games sanctioned by the Mississippi High School Activities Association didn’t kick-off until Friday, Aug., 31st, also a Labor Day weekend.
In contrast, just six years ago, regular season openers were contested on Friday, Aug. 17th, almost two full weeks before kickoff this season.
Old-timers will remember the days when prep football across the state of Mississippi didn’t begin until the Friday of Labor. Day weekend, just like this year.
However, those days, except for a rare exception like the 2007 season, have been long gone for most of the past 30 years since 1996.

Remembering M.J.
George County is remembering a former player this season.
To honor the legacy of M.J, Daniels, the jersey with number 11 will be awarded to a Rebel senior voted on by the GCHS players players and coaches. This season, that player is Brenn Moody, a versatile senior wide reciever/defensive back.
According to the GCHS Football page on Facebook, the player selcted will “Embodie his relentless spirit, unwavering dedication, and the heart he brought to both the field and the community.”
It is also expected that the Rebels will honor Daniels with a patch on their uniforms or a sticker on their helmets this season featuring his number 11 also.

Daniels, a player at Southern Mis at the time of his death, was shot and killed in June in an attempted car jacksing in Hattiesburg. The Golden Eagles will also wear helmet decals of his number 11 jersey during the 2024 season. They will enter the field with his jersey during the season as well.

Eagles nest
Resurrection will split its home games between both Gautier High and Pascagoula this season.
Well, sort of.
According to RCS head football coach and Athletics Director Eric Denmark the Eagles have only four home games, and they will play three of those in Vaughn-Wallace Stadium on the campus of GHS while the Homecoming contest will take place at War Memorial Stadium in Pascagoula.
Resurrection will open the season on the road at Bay High on Friday, Aug. 30th before returning to Gautier to host Presbyterian Christian the next week.
Three straight road trips are on tap over the next three weeks, before the Eagles come back home to celebrate Homecoming in Pascagoula on Friday, Oct 4th against Salem in a game that will also serve as the opening Region 8-1A contest for both teams as well.
Over the last four games in the regular season, all league affairs, RCS will play two in Gautier and the other pair on the road.