By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Week number two of the prep football season is upon us.

And Rock’s Locks is back for more pigskin picks.

Rock’s Locks went 9-4 last week in the kick off to a new campaign. Remember, a ‘lock” in the world of sports “for entertainment purposes only” means a sure thing, a solid pick.

Rock’s Locks was a steady feature in several daily newspapers (remember those?) across South Mississippi for much of the past three decades and has been a part of the journalistic fabric of prep football across the “Southern Six” for most of that time frame as well. Each week we will attempt to provide some insight with some prep pigskin prognosticator picks and provide you readers with much material to ridicule me with I am sure.

Just like last week, there are more all “Southern Six” match-ups this week as well.

In the words of Delbert McClinton…”It’s like rolling a seven, every time I roll the dice…”

1. Gautier at D’Iberville (Sonic Big Game of the Week) — A big early season showdown between a pair of squads coming off key wins in the opening week goes down at Warrior Stadium on the playing surface of Buddy Singleton Field. Both D’Iberville, which shocked perennial state power Columbia 51-15 on the road last week, and Gautier, which nipped Harrison Central 6-23 in overtime, look to start a season at 2-0 for the first time since 2021. which was also the last year the Warriors qualified for the state playoffs. This is the 19th overall meeting between the two teams, and the Gators lead a close series 10-8 after they snapped a five game losing streak to the Warriors last season with a 41-20 win at home. We think Gautier starts a streak of its own Friday night…Gautier 27, D’Iberville 21.
2. East Central at Pascagoula — The Panthers host the Hornets in this all Jackson County affair for the first time in four years and just for the second time in a decade. The two teams are coming off of much different results in the opening week, and Pascagoula is looking to get off to a 2-0 start for the second consecutive season while East Central is out to avoid an 0-2 start for the second consecutive year also. The Panthers lead the all-time series comfortably 13-3, and we think it’ll be acomfortable Friday night for PHS once again this week against the Hornets. Pascagoula 34, East Central 13.
3. Gulfport at Vancleave — This marks Gulfport’s first-ever trip to Vancleave, and it’s just the second meeting all-time between these two teams on the football field after the Admirals thumped the visiting Bulldogs 42-0 last year at historic Milner Stadium. The two squads also come into this match-up off of much different results in their season-opening games. The Bulldogs are looking to avoid their first 0-2 start in eight years, and the first-ever under sixth-year head coach Kevin Fant while the Admirals. hope to start off at 2-0 for the third straight season and second consecutive under head coach Blake Pennock. Gulfport 40, Vancleave 14.
4. Moss Point at Hancock — This marks just the fourth meeting ever between the Hawks and the Tigers on the gridiron, and it’s Moss Point’s first trip to Hancock High in 19 years and just the second one ever. These are a pair of teams coming off losses to start the season, and Hancock looks to avoid its first 0-2 start to a campaign in four years while MPHS is on the verge of an 0-2 start for the fourth straight season. Hancock 42, Moss Point 12.
5. Bay High at St. Stanislaus — The annual “Battle for the Crab Trap” is back at Brother Phillip Stadium Friday night as these two longtime neighboring rivals meet for the 56th time. Again, it’s a match-up between two teams coming off of much different outcomes in week one. The Rock-A-Chaws have won two straight in this series and and 10 of the past 11 meetings. Bay High is looking to move to 2-0 for the first time in four years, while SSC is trying to avoid an 0-2 start to a season for the first time in six years. A shaky nod goes to…Bay High 20, St. Stanislaus 17.
6. Ocean Springs at Oak Grove — The Greyhounds head to The Pine Belt to face the defending Class 7A state champion Warriors in week two. Ocean Springs opened the season with a loss to Madison Central for the second straight season, while OGHS got off to a 1-0 start with a 38-24 win over visiting Grenada. This will be the fifth time in history that the Greyhounds will travel to Oak Grove, and they have never came home with a win losing all four games. We don’t see that changing this week…OaK Grove 35, Ocean Springs 31.
7. Stone at Poplarville — The Tomcats head across the county line to face off with the home-standing Hornets Friday night. This marks the 54th overall meeting between the two teams on the football field, a series which has been dominated by Poplarville of late as the Hornets have won nine of the past 10 games including eight straight from 2013-2020. Stone dropped a 15-0 road decision to Biloxi last week while Poplarville slipped by Jefferson Davis County 17-16 also on the road. Poplarville 33, Stone 6.

A Six Pack to go:

Petal 21, St. Martin 16

George County 37, Greene County 28

Biloxi 28, Meridian 0

Picayune 35, Slidell Northshore 14

Forrest County AHS 21, Long Beach 20

Presbyterian Christian 40, Resurrection 12