By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — To borrow a lined from that Classic rock and roll band Foreigner, there’s a reason it “Feels like the first time” for the Gautier football team this week.

Because it is.

It will have been a week of “firsts” for the Gators on Friday night when all the dust settles after the lass 5A state championship contest here at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

• Last Friday, Gautier played in its third consecutive Class 5A South State title tilt for the first time in program history.
• Also last Friday, the Gators hosted a South State championship contest for the first time ever.
• And, that thrilling 37-35 win over visiting Brookhaven at Vaughan-Wallace Stadium punched Gautier’s ticket to its first-ever trip to the overall state championship round this week.
• Also, in said Class 5A state title tilt, the Gators will face perennial state power West Point for the first time ever as well in that showdown for the Gold Football.

The Gators face the Green Wave at 7:30 p.m., Friday night in the Class 5A state championship game here at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi. Gautier is 12-1 on the season, which ties the school record set back in 2000 for most wins in a season, while WPHS sits at 10-3 coming in.

“It’s a huge honor for the program, school and community,” Gautier head coach Marc High said, Monday around noon. “We’ve always wanted to bring the community something they can be proud of. Hopefully we’ve started to achieve that.”

West Point is no stranger to being in the state title tilt, as the Green Wave is the defending state Class 5A champ and they have won 12 state championships overall dating back to 1982.

“One of the most storied programs in the history of Mississippi football,” High added. “They know what it’s like to be here. It’s gonna be fun!”

Gautier slipped past visiting Brookhaven 37-35 in the Class 5A South State title tilt, while West Point bounced home-standing Cleveland Central 14-7 in its 10th straight North State title tilt appearance.

West Point is playing in its eighth straight Class 5A state championship contest, and the Green Wave are the defending state champ in that classification after thumping Laurel 35-7 last year at M.M. Roberts Stadium.

Defensive back Marcus Mukeba led the stout Green Wave defensive effort last week as he recorded eight tackles and three three pass break-ups.

Meanwhile, for Gautier, senior standout quarterback Trey Irving went 26-of-35 passing for 232 yards with three touchdowns against Brookhaven. Also, running back Latrell Pogue had 123 total yards with two touchdowns against Ole’ Brook.

Defensively, senior linebacker Fredrick Nicholson recorded 11 tackles, three tackles for loss, a pass break-up, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery for the Gators.