By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

(Editors Note: This is the fourth of a six part series on how the schedule for the six new head football coaches in the “Southern Six” shape up for next season.)

Moss Point — If one were to try and send out a Fathers Day gift to recent head football coaches at Moss Point High, the bill would be much more expensive than it’s ever been.

The Tigers enter the upcoming season with their fourth leader in the past four seasons, marking the first time that has ever happened in the history of that once storied program.

This time, it’s Derrick Jenkins turn at the helm. Jenkins comes to Dantzler Street from New Augusta, after serving several seasons as the defensive coordinator at Perry Central High School. Prior to that, he worked in the same role at St. Martin and Mendenhall.

This is his first head coaching job in the state of Mississippi. He inherits a Tiger team that was historically bad last season, going 0-9 under then-interim head coach Julius Bridges. It marked the first completely win-less season for the Tigers in 72 years, since going 0-11 in 1952.

Jenkins replaced Bridges, who served as an assistant on the staff under his predecessors Eugene Harmon and John Feaster. Bridges will return to his role as an assistant for the Tigers this season.

The Tigers will remain in Region 8-4A as Jenkins takes command, but there has been one slight change in the league as reigning Class 4A state champion Poplarville departs for Region 7-4A and Forrest County fills that open spot.

Region 8-4A:

Moss Point

Bay High

Pass Christian

Greene County

Forrest County AHS

Despite winning its first state title last year, Poplarville finished in second place in the league race behind Greene County.

Moss Point has lost nine straight games and 14 out of its last 15 contests entering the new campaign. The Tigers have missed the Class 4A South State playoffs the past two seasons, marking just the second time that has ever happened since the implementation of a state-wide playoff system in the state of Mississippi in 1981 and the first time it has occurred in 42 years.

The Tigers face a fairly familiar schedule, with six of nine foes from last season returning to the list this season as Jackson Lanier replaces Hancock and Vancleave replaces West Harrison in non-region play.

Moss Point opens the season against its oldest and longest-running rival Pascagoula, as the annual “Battle of the Cats” is set for Friday, Aug. 29th.