By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

LAUREL — Visiting Stone High made a big splash on the opening night of Region 4-5A play as the Tomcats went “Between the Bricks” here at R.H. Watkins Stadium and knocked off defending Class 5A South State champion Laurel 24-21 Friday night.
The win moved Stone to an even 3-3 on the season and the Tomcats have now won three of their past four games after starting the season off at 0-2. Meanwhile, the Golden Tornadoes fall to 1-6 overall.

It marked Stone’s first win ever in eight all-time meetings over Laurel dating back to the start of the series in 2001.
The Tomcats jumped out to a 21-14 halftime lead and held on for the win as the Stone defense forced Laurel to turn the ball over on downs at the Tomcat 40 yard line with less than a minute to play.

Stone quarterback Xander Howard accounted for all three Tomcat touchdowns with a trio of scoring strikes in the big win. He went 11-of-12 for 202 yards and the three scores and no interceptions.
Avyon Stringfield was on the receiving end of two of those touchdown tosses. The junior Stringfield hauled in five catches for 158 yards and the two scores.
Jayden Collins chipped in six catches including the other scoring pass.
When Howard wasn’t taking to the air, he was handing the ball off to tailback Kylan Burnett who carried the ball 22 times for 127 yards and helped keep the Laurel defense honest.

Stone placekicker Aiden Gunn not only nailed three extra points but added an all important field goal late in the third period to provide what wound up being the decisive points.

Elsewhere, in the Region 4-6A opener for both teams, Hancock slipped past visiting West Harrison 21-20 with a score in the final minutes of the game.

Here is the complete scoreboard:
THURSDAY
Gulfport 21, Biloxi 7

FRIDAY
George County 48, Long Beach 13
Bay High 46, Moss Point 27
Gautier 47, Vancleave 14
Enterprise Lincoln 41, Resurrection 22
Hancock 21, West Harrison 20
Harrison Central 20, St. Martin 16
Ocean Springs 27, D’Iberville 13
Pearl River Central 35, Jackson Forest Hill 20
Picayune 38, Pascagoula 28
Poplarville 21, Pass Christian 19
Stone 24, Laurel 21
Tylertown 50, St. Stanislaus 21
Wayne County 19, East Central 7
West Marion 49, St. Patrick 14