By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

The prep football season turns 10 weeks old this week, believe it or not, as most all football-playing teams in the “Southern Six” head toward Halloween.

“A Look Ahead” has been a part of the journalistic fabric of prep football across the “Southern Six” for most of the past three decades. Each week of the season on Monday, SouthMiss6 Sports takes a look at the action set to kickoff in that particular week all across this region.

The regular season is quickly winding down all across the “Southern Six” and all respective region races are coming into focus.

Here are seven games in the “Southern Six’ to keep an eye on this week:

1. Big Battle — George County travels to Picayune in a battle for supremacy in Region 4-6A. The Maroon Tide come into the big battle on a 22 game region win streak, with their last league loss coming in the regular season finale in the 2020 season. Both Picayune and the visiting Rebels sit at 3-0 in the region race, and a Maroon Tide win this week will secure the fourth straight league crown for head coach Cody Stogner’s crew. A win by GCHS will give the Rebels the region lead for at least a week before they return home to host Pascagoula in the regular season finale next week. This marks the 19th all-time meeting on the football field between the two teams and Picayune has doubled up its advantage at 12-6 after a 34-21 win on the road in Lucedale. Picayune has won five straight in this series dating back to 2002.
2. Big Battle (Part 2) — The second showdown for a top spot atop a region race takes place at Greyhound Stadium as Ocean Springs takes on visiting Gulfport. Ocean Springs also comes in on a 22-game region winning streak, in this Big Battle that will decide the top seed in Region 4-7A. Both teams sit at 3-0, and this marks the third straight meeting between the two teams when both come in unbeaten in region play. Ocean Springs, which has won three straight league titles, has not only won all three but is also on a four game winning streak over the Admirals. Gulfport leads the all-time series 21-11, but the teams have evenly split the past 10 games since 2014.
3. Big Battle (Part 3) — Poplarville hosts Greene County in the third clash for the top region spot in the “Southern Six” Friday night. The Hornets and Wildcats are both 3-0 in Region 8-4A play, and this wraps up the regular season for both teams so the winner will be the outright region champion. The Hornets still hold the best overall record in the “Southern Six” at 8-1 overall this season, and veteran head coach Jay Beech’s crew is trying to win its eighth region title in his 11 years at the helm of the Hornets.
4. Thursday Night Football — A quartet of “Southern Six” schools in the four lower classifications of play end their regular season a day earlier this week. Bay High travels to Pass Christian in Region 8-4A play with only seeding on the line, as both teams have qualified for the upcoming Class 4A South State playoffs but each will open the postseason on the road. This marks the 72nd all-time meeting between the neighboring rivals. Also on Thursday, St. Stanislaus hosts West Marion in Class 3A action. The Rock-A-Chaws have been relegated to the fourth seed no matter the outcome of the regular season finale. Also, Resurrection is on the road at Lumberton Thursday night.
5. Tuesday’s Gone — For yet another trio of “Southern Six” squads, including Resurrection, the die has been cast. Both Moss Point and St. Patrick finished their respective seasons up with winless 0-9 records last week, and have already turned in their gear for this year. Meanwhile, Resurrection will miss the state playoffs for just the second time in the past decade after a loss to Sacred Heart last week and will wrap up its season Thursday night in Lamar County.
6. Neighbor Wars — D’Iberville hosts St. Martin in what is not necessarily an earth-shaking contest in Region 4-7A circles but certainly one with much meaning to the Warriors and Yellow Jackets Friday night. D’Iberville revived its playoff chances last week with a win over Harrison Central, while St. Martin is in dire need of a region win to have any hope of a return to the postseason. The Yellow Jackets come in at 0-3 in the region race, and are on a 20-game region losing streak. D’Iberville is 1-2 in league play, and a win this week would go quite a ways in helping return the Warriors to the state playoffs for the first time in three years.
7. Playoff Chase — Gautier has its sights set on its first region title in 16 years, since 2008, as the Gators go on the road to face Stone Friday night in Perkinston at A.L. May Stadium on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. Gautier sits alone atop the Region 4-5A race at 3-0, while the Tomcats are 2-1. The Gators have played in two straight Class 5A South State championship games, but are hoping this year will result in their first-ever trip to the state title game. A win over Stone would clinch the top spot in the loop for Gautier.