By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

The prep football season turns 11 weeks old this week, believe it or not, as the state playoffs start for the four smallest classifications and the regular season wraps up for the three largest.

“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. Pascagoula at George County — The battle for the second seed in Region 4-6A as well as home-field advantage in the upcoming opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs takes place at Gill-Martin Stadium in Lucedale Thursday night as the Rebels host the Panthers in the regular season finale for both teams.. This is the same scenario as last season, when GCHS went on the road and pulled out an exciting 43-40 win at War Memorial Stadium to clinch the second spot in the loop. This is the 22nd all-time meeting between the two teams on the gridiron, with the series being just about as close as it can get with the Rebels up 11-10. This marks the 14th time the squads have met since the series resumed in 2005 after a 13 year hiatus. Again, just like last season, the winner will host a first round game, and the loser will hit the road to open postseason play.
2. D’Iberville at Biloxi — Both the Indians and the Warriors will open the upcoming Class 7A South State playoffs on the road, but this game at The Biloxi Sports Complex Thursday night will decide the third and fourth seeds in Region 4-7A. Both teams are 2-2 in the region race, while DHS stands 5-4 overall and BHS is 4-5. This is the 34th all-time meeting between the two neighboring rivals on the gridiron, and the Indians hold a slight 18-15 lead but the teams have split the last eight meetings evenly. All 34 meetings between the two have come since a state-wide playoff system was implemented in the state of Mississippi in 1981.
3. Picayune at Hancock — The Maroon Tide looks to extend its program record region win streak to 24 games this week on the road in the Kiln at Brett Favre Field against the home-standing Hawks Thursday night. Picayune clinched its fourth consecutive region championship last week with a win over George County, while Hancock will be the fourth seed from Region 4-6A for the second straight season. This marks the 16th all-time meeting between the two teams in a series that the Maroon Tide have dominated over the years with a 12-3 record. The series resumed last year after a 19 year break, and Hancock’s last win over Picayune came 22 years ago in 2002 in a close 13-12 decision.
4. Ocean Springs at St. Martin — The Greyhounds are also on a school record 23 game region win streak and look to make it 24 like Picayune Thursday night on the road against the neighborhood rivals Yellow Jackets. St. Martin is at the opposite end of the spectrum, coming into this annual affair on a 21-game region losing streak. St. Martin hasn’t won a league game in over three years, since Oct. 1st, 2021. This marks the 60th all-time meeting between the two teams on the football field, and OSHS has completely dominated the series 48-11. The Greyhounds have won six straight in the series, and 17 out of the last 18.
5. Gulfport at Harrison Central — Gulfport travels to Earl Phillips Stadium Thursday night and the Admirals have already secured the second seed in Region 4-7A behind OSHS for the second straight season, and it will be the third straight year that GHS finishes in the second spot in league play. Also, for the third straight season, The Admirals will host an opening round state playoff game in the largest classification in the state. The Red Rebels will miss the state playoffs for the third time in the past five years.
6. Region 8-4A — Four teams from Region 8-4A begin the Class 4A South State playoffs Friday night, including three from the “Southern Six”. Poplarville hosts Mendenhall, while Pass Christian heads to Northeast Jones and Bay High travels to Forest. Top seed Greene County hosts Quitman.
7. Region 4-5A — Gautier captured its first region title last week since 2008. Perennial state power Laurel is teetering on the verge of missing the state playoffs since that same season. The Gators host the Golden Tornadoes Thursday night, and the rest of the region is a big ole mess. Gautier is the only team in the six squad loop to clinch a playoff berth so far. Vancleave goes to Wayne County Thursday night and Stone hosts East Central. The Hornets threw the whole region into a tailspin with a 28-26 upset over visiting Vancleave last week.