By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — This week’s 76th annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football classic will have a decided “Southern Six” flair.

As many as sixteen senior standout “Southern Six” products representing 10 different high schools were selected to the South squad in the long-running contest, which is set for 11:30 Saturday morning here in this Port city at historic Milner Stadium.

George County head coach James Ray will serve as defensive coordinator for the South squad and West Harrison head coach Quincy Patrick will serve as the wide receivers coach for the South team. West Jones head coach Cory Reynolds leads the team.

“Big honor,” Ray, who’ll coach one more time before stepping upstairs into an administrative role at GCHS, said. “I have been coaching for a long time and am fortunate that this is my third all-star game to be a part of. I am really excited about our south staff with Corey Reynolds as a head coach and Quincy Patrick on it. I am excited. We are well represented as George County in that game too. All the way around it is going to be a fun week.”

Gautier quarterback Trey Irving, running back Darrell Smith of Picayune, quarterback Silas Corder of Pascagoula, athlete/return man Kevon Ford of Moss Point, wide out Brenn Moody of George County, offensive lineman Deshawn Feazell of Moss Point, offensive lineman Brooks Martinez of Bay High, offensive lineman Zaylin Dedeaux of Ocean Springs, offensive lineman Dawson Kennedy of Pearl River Central, defensive lineman Tyneke Davis of George County, defensive back Kohl Bradley of George County, linebacker Josh Lane of West Harrison, linebacker Fred Nicholson of Gautier, running back Trey Harris of West Harrison, linebacker Coleman Gazzo of Biloxi and linebacker Sebastian Ford of Pascagoula have all were picked for the game.

Dedeaux is not expected to take part, however. Irving is the Class 5A “Mr. Football” in the state. Also, Class 4A “Mr. Football” quarterback Coby King of Greene County is in the game as well.

Players will report on Wednesday to begin preparation for the game. Each squad consists of 42 players selected in October by Mississippi Association members.

Last year the South won for the fourth straight season and now leads the series 37-29-5 all-time.

The game features a North-South format and the South leads the series 37-29-5. The 2024 Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football Game will be livestreamed through FNUTL.com.  It will also be available through the MAC Network, Roku, AppleTV, YouTube & Firestick.  ​

The Bernard Blackwell All-Star Football Classic is formerly known as the Mississippi High School All-Star Football Game and was originated in 1950 by Mississippi State coach Arthur “Slick” Morton. The MAC assumed sponsorship of the game from the Jackson Touchdown Club in 1993. In 1994, the game was renamed for Coach Bernard Blackwell, the late Executive Director of the MAC.

After meetings Wednesday afternoon, each team began on-field preparations Wednesday night with the first of five practices.

Last year, for the second consecutive season, the outcome of the game came down to the fourth and final quarter.

And also for the second straight year, the home-standing South squad was the team that pulled out the win in exciting fashion.

South quarterback Landon Varnes of Brandon found wide out Cayden Burger of Petal on a 26-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes to play giving the team its first lead of the game and resulting in a 20-15 victory.

In 2022, the South scored with 10 seconds to play to pull out the win.