By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The South squad in this week’s 76th annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Game is expected to have a pretty productive offensive unit.
And if that indeed does come to fruition it’ll most likely be due to direct contributions from a group of “Southern Six” senior standouts.
As many as fifteen “Southern Six” products representing nine 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.
And over half of them are on the offensive side of the ball.

Gautier quarterback Trey Irving, running back Darrell Smith of Picayune, quarterback Silas Corder of Pascagoula, athlete/return man Kevon Ford of Moss Point, running back Trey Harris of West Harrison, 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, 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, linebacker Coleman Gazo of Biloxi and linebacker Sebastian Ford of Pascagoula have all were picked for the game.
Dedeaux is not expected to take part, however. Also, Class 4A “Mr. Football” quarterback Colby King of Greene County is in the game as well.

The inclusion of both Irving and King gives the Mississippi squad the state’s “Mr. Football” in both Class 4A and Class 5A as Irving earned that honor in the midst of leading his Gators to their first-ever appearance in the Class 5A state championship game.
Also, with Corder, King and Irving all expected to see time behind center for the South that trio instantly becomes one of the most explosive quarterback trios ever to suit up for either side in the long history of the contest.
After all, Irving was also named as the Class 5A “Offensive Player of the Year” as he enjoyed a splendid season in which he accounted for right at 4,000 yards of total offense and 44 touchdowns on the season. He finished up in the state championship game with 229 yards passing with a touchdown and 120 yards rushing to lead Gautier in its 28-21 loss to perennial state power West Point.

King guided Greene County to the Region 8-4A title and the Class 4A South State playoffs with prolific passing numbers of 173 completions out of 239 attempts for 2,662 yards with 35 touchdowns and just five interceptions while also carrying the ball 63 times for 657 yards and 14 more scores.
Meanwhile, Corder became the Panthers’ all-time leading passer while leading the highest-scoring Panther offense since 1987 with 2,271 passing yards and 23 touchdowns and PHS reached the second round of the Class 6A South State playoffs for the second straight season.

Kemper County’s Kendetryon Backstrom is expected to get snaps behind center for the South Saturday as well.

Players reported on Wednesday to begin preparation and practice 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.