By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

CLINTON — A total of 14 prep football “Southern Six” senior standouts were selected Wednesday morning to participate in a pair of upcoming annual all-star games as well as a pair of coaches.
Including a trio of players in the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.
The selections for both that game and the Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football Game were announced at a press conference here at the offices of the Mississippi Association of Coaches.
George County standout signal-caller Deuce Knight, St. Stanislaus suburb placekicker Evan Noel and Gulfport stalwart offensive lineman Jamarius “J.J.” McCann were all selected to represent their home state in the prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Classic. The contest is slated for Saturday, Dec., 14th at Hancock/Whitney Stadium in Mobile on the campus of the University of South Alabama.

In that game, Pascagoula veteran head coach Lewis Sims will serve as the defensive coordinator for the Mississippi team.
“To be chosen to coach in this game is one of the highest honors you can achieve as a coach in Mississippi,” Sims, who is in the midst of his 14th season at the helm of the Panthers, said. “Coaching alongside living legends and being able to coach the best players in the state is humbling. I am sure thankful for the opportunity and can’t wait to get started building the 2024 Mississippi team with some of the best men in the game of football.”
It is quite likely that Pascagoula missed out on having a standout senior defensive player in this game for the second straight season because of an injury. In a win over D’Iberville two weeks ago, Pascagoula suffered a season-ending loss to linebacker and Louisiana Tech commit Jaylon Parnell for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Last season, the Panthers lost senior all-state defensive end Jeffrey Rush for the year with a similar injury just prior to a season-opening win over Moss Point.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that that would have been the case,” Sims added.

Last year, Mississippi proved to be quite hospitable hosts against Alabama in the 37th annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.
The visiting squad took advantage of six Mississippi turnovers plus a botched punt attempt, as Alabama took a 26-17 win at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi in the annual affair. It marked the fourth straight win for Alabama, and Alabama leads the overall series 26-11.

Also, running back Darrell Smith of Picayune, quarterback Silas Corder of Pascagoula, athlete/return man Kevon Ford of Moss Point, wide out Brenn Moody of George County, offensive lineman Deshawn Feazell of Moss Point, offensive lineman Brooks Martinez of Bay High, offensive lineman Zaylin Dedeaux of Ocean Springs, defensive lineman Tyneke Davis of George County, defensive back Kohl Bradley of George County, linebacker Fred Nicholson of Gautier and linebacker Sebastian Ford of Pascagoula have all been named to the South Team for the annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Game.

In that game, George County head coach James Ray will serve as defensive coordinator for the South squad and West Harrison head coach Quincy Patrick will serve as the wide receivers coach for the South team.
That game will take place the following Saturday, Dec. 21st in Gulfport at historic Milner Stadium.

Last year, for the second consecutive season, the outcome of the 75th annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football Classic came down the fourth and final quarter.
And also for the second straight year, the home-standing South squad was the team that pulled out the win in exciting fashion.

South quarterback Landon Varnes of Brandon found wide out Cayden Burger of Petal on a 26-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes to play giving the team its first lead of the game and resulting in a 20-15 victory. The win, taking place in Gulfport for the 13th consecutive time, marked the fourth straight win in the annual affair for the South.
The South now leads the series 37-29-5 all-time.Two years ago, the South scored with 10 seconds to play to pull out the win.