By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Week number 11 of the prep football season is upon us.

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

Rock’s Locks slipped a bit last week due to one almost shocking upset and registered an 11-2 mark. We now stand 110-20 overall entering week 11 and our overall mark sits at almost 85 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.

As we win down the regular season, in the words of Adam Duritz…”It’s a lifelong commitment, recovering the satellites…”

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. Pascagoula 30, George County 28.
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. D’Iberville 28, Biloxi 14.
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. Picayune 34, Hancock 13.
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. It’s just more of the same this week…Ocean Springs 42, St. Martin 2.
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. Gulfport 40, Harrison Central 14.
6. Mendenhall at Poplarville — Four teams from Region 8-4A begin the Class 4A South State playoffs Friday night, including three from the “Southern Six”. Poplarville hosts Mendenhall in one of the featured match ups. The Hornets have won 12 consecutive first round playoff games at home. This will make it 13…Poplarville 34, Mendenhall 21.
7. Laurel at Gautier — 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. The Gators get their first ever win over Laurel this time after losing the first three games in the all-time series…Gautier 31, Laurel 15.

A Six Pack to Go:

Vancleave 21, Wayne County 20

Stone 40, East Central 14

Forest 50, Bay High 15

Northeast Jones 27, Pass Christian 21

West Harrison 6, Long Beach 3

Noxubee County 60, St. Stanislaus 6