By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director
And then there was…
Umm, 20?
Entering this week, only four of the 24 prep football member schools sanctioned by The Mississippi High School Association in the “Southern Six” had played a region game in the first six weeks of the season.
But this week, when the dust settles on the second Friday of October, all two dozen squads will have played at one league game.
Region play finally kicks off for the three largest classifications (Class 5-7A) this week as well as Class 3A after Region 8-4A and Region 8-1A began last week.
That means that for all 24 teams in the “Southern Six” every game from here on out until the end of their respective regular seasons end counts.
Also, fans get an earlier start of action this week when Biloxi host longtime arch-rival Gulfport in the 102nd meeting all-time between the two teams Thursday night at The Biloxi Sports Complex.
Woodson Wins
Former Moss Point standout defensive back Marcus Woodson celebrated a big Saturday night accomplishment over the weekend.
Woodson, now in his second season as co-defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Arkansas, helped guide the Razorbacks to a huge 19-14 upset of unbeaten and fourth-ranked Tennessee at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. Withe the decision, the Vols fall to 4-1 and 1-1 in SEC play, and Arkansas improves to 4-2 and 2-1, respectively.
Arkansas freshman quarterback Malachi Singleton scored the game-winning touchdown on an 11-yard rush with 1:17 remaining in the thrilling win for the Razorbacks. Meanwhile, Woodson’s defenders held a high-powered Vols’ offensive unit to just the two touchdowns in notching the big win.
The Arkansas defense underwent a massive improvement in Woodson’s first season last year, and the improvement seems to be continuing.
Woodson joined the Arkansas staff after spending three seasons at Florida State as the Seminoles’ defensive backs coach and defensive passing game coordinator. His secondary helped lead the Noles to a 10-win campaign in 2022 capped by a Cheez-It Bowl victory.
Prior to Florida State, Woodson helped Auburn win 17 games in two seasons (2018-19) while working alongside Arkansas’ new defensive coordinator Travis Williams. Woodson headed to The Plains after two seasons at Memphis coaching the Tigers’ defensive backs. Memphis won 18 games over the two seasons, forcing a combined 60 takeaways, the second-highest total in the nation during that span.
Prior to joining the Memphis staff, Woodson coached defensive backs at Fresno State for two seasons (2014-15). From 2009-13, Woodson coached defensive backs and was the recruiting coordinator at Charleston Southern, tutoring five all-conference defensive backs.
Woodson began his coaching career at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., where he was the defensive backs coach (2005-08). Woodson played safety at Ole Miss, starting for two seasons before his playing career was cut short by an injury prior to his senior season. A 1998 MPHS graduate, he went to Ole Miss after helping lead Moss Point High School to back-to-back state titles in 1996 and 1997.
“Super 7” in the “Southern 6”
Every Tuesday through the first week in December, we will publish our “Super 7 in the Southern 6” weekly poll involving all 24 prep football teams in our coverage area.
The weekly poll is the only one in the state that is voted on by a panel of veteran sportswriters, a few selected area coaches and other media members.
This week is the Week seven rankings for 2024.
“Super 7 in the Southern 6”
- Picayune
- Poplarville
- Gautier
- Pascagoula
- Gulfport
- D’Iberville
- Vancleave
(Others receiving votes: West Harrison, Ocean Springs, George County, St. Martin, Pass Christian)
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