By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Former West Point head football coach Chris Chambless has a new team with a familiar nickname.
Chambless, who “Southern Six” folks are quite familiar with after he and his Green Wave faced Picayune in the Class 5A state championship game three times in four years from 2019-2022, retired from WPHS last season after his squad won the 2023 Class 5A state championship. He accepted the same post at Gordo, Ala., High late last week.
Chambless was approved by the Pickens County Board of Education as the new GHS head coach on Thursday evening.
Chambless led West Point to seven state championships during his 18-year tenure at West Point.
“It seemed like a really good fit for me, and I’m lucky and honored they’re giving me this opportunity,” Chambless said. “My heart’s full here in West Point. I’ve got many great relationships and friends, and just felt it was time for me to go across state lines and see what we could do.”

Chambless was an assistant coach at West Point before taking the top job in 2006, after Dennis Allen retired. Chambless had a record of 206-45 and led the Green Wave to the state title game in each of his last eight seasons.
Longtime assistant Brett Morgan took his place this year and led West Point to yet another title with a 28-21 win over Gautier two weeks ago.
Oddly enough, Gordo is also nicknamed the Green Wave.
Dowdell on the move
Former Picayune prep All-American Dante Dowdell is on the move for the third time in two years.

The former Class 5A “Mr Football” in the state of Mississippi in 2022, has landed at the University of Kentucky.

Dowdell signed with the University of Oregon after leading the Maroon Tide to back-to-back class 5A state championships in 2021 and 2022, beating West Point and Chambless both times. The 6-foot-2, 215 pounder appeared in six games for the Ducks in his only season in Eugene. He rushed for 90 yards off 17 carries and a touchdown. His best game came against Portland State early in the season, where he finished with 55 yards and a touchdown off eight carries.

He then left Oregon after just one season and has transferred to Nebraska. This season, which turned out to be his lone campaign with the Cornhuskers, Dowdell rushed for 614 yards and to lead Nebraska and 12 touchdown which was fourth highest in the Big Ten.

He has now transferred again to Lexington, Ky. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.
He ran for over 5,3000 yards and 65 touchdowns during his prep career.

Bearcats Back

Long Beach has revealed its 2025 prep football schedule.

The Bearcats will remain in Region 4-6A next season under head coach Jacob Massey.

Long Beach will repeat almost the exact same pre-region schedule from last season meeting old rival Pass Christian and bay High as well as Forrest County AHS and Purvis before having an open date and then opening region play.