By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GAUTIER — When Gautier head football coach Marc High sits down to enjoy Christmas dinner with his family on Thursday, he’ll do so with lots to celebrate.

After all, he just led his Gators to their first ever appearance in a state championship game a few weeks ago.

However, High hopes that he will have even more to enjoy next Christmas if his squad can continue its recent climb to the top of the ranks in South State.

Gautier heads into uncharted territory next season as the Gators will move into Class 6A for the first time ever after recent reclassification by the Mississippi High School Activities Association. Gautier lost to perennial state power West Point 28-21 in the Class 5A state championship game at M.M. Roberts Stadium on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi earlier this month.

“This was a resilient squad all year,” High said, recently. “They came to practice every day to get one percent better. This group of seniors have won more games, more playoff games, than any other group of seniors at this school ever.”

Indeed. Gautier has played in three straight Class 5A South State championship games and has compiled a 30-13 record over those last three campaigns with seven postseason wins. It’s a record only surpassed by the 1997-1999 team, as those teams were the first three football squads ever in school history and they went 34-3, but won just two playoff games during that span.

The Gators must find a way to replace 15 seniors, including quarterback Trey Irving on offense and linebacker Fredrick Nicholson defensively next season, after each senior standout earned the highest individual awards possible in Class 5A this season.

Irving was named the “Offensive Player of the Year”, and for his stellar play he was also named the Class 5A “Mr. Football” in the stat Nicholson was selected as “Defensive Player of the Year” on the Class 5A First Team All-State squad.

To that end, High has assembled the schedule for 2025 for his team that includes new faces in new places as well. Gautier will compete in the newly revamped Region 4-6A with arch-rival Pascagoula, perennial state power Picayune, Long Beach, Hancock and another newcomer in Pearl River Central.

The annual “Singing River Classic” between school district partners Pascagoula and Gautier will move from early in the season to the regular season finale.

In non region play, the Gators will also keep Jackson County rival Moss Point on its new slate next year, as well as facing D’Iberville for the third straight season.

In addition, George County, West Harrison and Greene County also return to Gautier’s slate next season after a brief hiatus for each.

“We’re playing a few teams we haven’t played in a few years,” High added. “It’s gonna make for a fun and interesting season.”