By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Week number 10 of the prep football season is upon us.

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

Rock’s Locks raised the roof off the place for the fifth straight week last time out with yet another perfect outing at 13-0. We now stand 99-18 overall entering week nine and improved our overall mark even better for a winning percentage of just over at 84 percent.

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.

Remember, a “lock” in the world of sports “for entertainment purposes only” means a sure thing, a solid pick.

On the heels of our nifty perfect 13-0 mark last week, and with a few games taking place on Halloween night Thursday, in the words of Riff Raff…”It’s astounding, time is fleeting and madness takes its toll…But listen closely, Not for very much longer…I’ve got to keep control…”

1. George County at Picayune — 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. We’ll stick with the King until he’s dethroned…Picayune 42, George County 40.
2. Gulfport at Ocean Springs — The second showdown for a top spot atop a region 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. Again, long live the King until we are proven wrong…Ocean Springs 27, Gulfport 24.
3. Greene County at Poplarville — Poplarville hosts Greene County Friday night in the third clash for the top region spot in the “Southern Six”this week. 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, 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. Same story, third verse, same as the first verse…Poplarville 31, Greene County 30.
4. Bay High at Pass Christian — 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 Thursday 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. Pass Christian 34, Bay High 13.
5. St. Martin at D’Iberville— 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. We think they’ll get it…D’Iberville 32, St. Martin 12.
6. Gautier at East Central — 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. A win over Stone would clinch the top spot in the loop for Gautier. We think the Gators will get it…Gautier 28, Stone 16.
7. Vancleave at East Central — The Bulldogs head to Shirley Stadium to renew a long-running Jackson County rivalry against the home-standing Hornets. These two teams seem to be heading in completely opposite directions, as Vancleave is in a battle to host an opening round game in the upcoming Class 5A South State playoffs while ECHS is just struggling to find a win of any sorts. This marks the 64th edition of this annual affair, and the overall series has been pretty close with the Bulldogs up 33-30. This game will be talked about in deer stands and duck blinds for the next year…Vancleave 35, East Central 8.

A Six Pack to Go:

West Marion 30, St. Stanislaus 12

Lumberton 35, Resurrection 14

Pascagoula 37, West Harrison 21

Biloxi 17, Harrison Central 7

Hancock 33, Long Beach 7

Wayne County 27, Laurel 20