By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

HATTIESBURG — The “Southern Six” dominated the Class 6A First Team All-State offensive backfield this season.

George County quarterback Deuce Knight joined Picayune running back Darrel Smith and Wesr Harrison running back Jordan Stapleton as the standout forces on the squad, which was selected by members of the Mississippi Association of Coaches.

In addition, another pair of George County seniors were named to the Class 6A First Team All-State squad as well in wide out Brenn Moody and defensive back Kohl Bradley.

Also, West Harrison linebacker Josh Lane joined his teammate Stapleton on the First Team as well. All-in-all, six “southern Six” products were named First Team.

In nine games at George County in 2024, Knight passed for 2,082 yards and 24 touchdowns with five interceptions while also rushing for 450 yards and nine scores. He missed four regular season games with a hamstring injury, but returned in time to lead the Rebels to the second round of the Mississippi Class 6A playoffs.

Smith, the senior standout tailback for perennial state power Picayune, just wrapped up his final campaign with the Maroon Tide and will long be recognized as one of the top running backs in a long and storied pantheon of Picayune ball carriers.

Smith really stepped up his game during his final campaign with the Maroon Tide as he has become one of the top running backs in the rushing for just over 2,500 yards and 28 touchdowns this year in 13 games. He averaged right at 192 yards rushing per game, and helped guide Picayune to its fourth straight trip to the South State championship game.

Smith also caught a touchdown pass, threw a scoring pass and returned a kick-off 90 yards for a touchdown as Picayune finished the season at 11-3.

Knight signed with Auburn and Smith inked with Louisiana-Lafayette.

Stapleton, just a junior, will return to the Hurricanes next year after running for 2,003 rushing yards this year including 301 rushing yards in a 61-7 regular season finale win over Long Beach. Despite missing the postseason, Stapleton helped lead the Hurricane’s offense to their best season in school history with 39.7 points scored per game.

Also, a dozen “Southern Six” products picked up Class 6A Second Team All-State honors.

Here is a complete list of the Class 6A All-State selections as picked by the MAC:

CLASS 6A

Coach of the Year: Michael Fair, Grenada

Offensive Player of the Year: Deuce Vance, QB, Sr., Hattiesburg

Defensive Player of the Year: Jarques Perry, DL, Sr., Grenada

First Team Offense

Deuce Knight, QB, Sr., George County

Mccaleb Taylor, RB, Sr., Grenada

Darrell Smith, RB, Sr., Picayune

Jordan Stapleton, RB, Jr., West Harrison

Cornelius Caraway, FB, Sr., Ridgeland

Tristen Keys, WR, Jr., Hattiesburg

Tyree Barnett, WR, Sr., Hattiesburg

Brenn Moody, WR, Sr., George County

Maddox Lynch, TE, Sr., Warren Central

Bryson Cooley, OL, Jr., West Jones

Kadien Nelson, OL, Jr., Hattiesburg

Michael Pride, OL, Sr. Olive Branch

Willie Edmond, OL, Sr., Vicksburg

Mitavius McCane, OL, Jr., Ridgeland

Jarcoby Hopson, ATH, Sr. Lake Cormorant

Jonah Artman, PK, Jr., Warren Central

Second Team Offense

Silas Corder, QB, Sr., Pascagoula

Mekhi Gaddis, RB, Sr., Neshoba Central

Marvin Moore, RB, Sr., Callaway

Elijah Jones, RB, Sr., West Jones

Sean Fairley, FB, Jr., West Harrison

Darius Carter, WR, Jr., Pascagoula

Jaylen Johnson, WR, Sr., Ridgeland

Zayion Cotton, WR, Jr., Grenada

Jack Fugette, OL, Sr., Lake Cormorant

Javen Bolden, OL, Jr., Picayune

Jarvaris Bledsoe, OL, Sr., Grenada

Dawson Kennedy, OL, Sr., Pearl River Central

Amarion Breland, OL, Sr., Hattiesburg

D.K. Wallace, ATH, Jr., Ridgeland

Mason Cramer, PK, Sr., Pascagoula

First Team Defense

Ronnie Blossom, DE, Sr., Warren Central

Ty Hopkins, DE, Sr., West Jones

Larry Reynolds, DL, Sr., Warren Central

Kevin Oatis, DL, Sr., Hattiesburg

Jahmani Washington, LB, Sr., Grenada

Cam Craft, LB, Sr., Hattiesburg

Josh Lane, LB, Sr., West Harrison

Gavin Davenport, LB, Sr., Warren Central

Kohl Bradley, DB, Sr., George County

Demarcus Baker, DB, Sr., Hattiesburg

Jamarcus Flowers, SS, Sr., South Panola

Zach Ruffin, FS, Sr., Neshoba Central

Dezi Curley, K, Jr., West Harrison

Decorey Knight, KR, Sr., Vicksburg

Will Huffman, LS, Sr., Neshoba Central

Second Team Defense

Nolan Wilson, DE, Jr., Picayune

Tyneke Davis, DE, Sr., George County

Anthony Hopson, DL, Sr., Neshoba Central

Kaden Smith, DL, Sr., Hattiesburg

Jarrad Loper, LB, Jr., Pascagoula

Nigel Lockett, LB, Jr., Ridgeland

Blane Greene, LB, Sr., George County

Jordan Magee, LB, Sr., Terry

Tylan Wilson, DB, Jr., Pascagoula

Tylen Matthews, DB, Jr., Lake Cormorant

Caleb Tillman, SS, Sr., Terry

Jaylas Winters, FS, Jr., Neshoba Central

Austin Taylor, P, Sr., Olive Branch

Zayden Reed, KR, Jr., Lake Cormorant

Canaan Uzel, LS, Sr., Picayune