By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

Catching up on a few scheduling notes as we count down to the start of pre-season practice in about 12 days…

One item we here at @SouthMiss6 Sports noticed quickly when the new schedules started rolling in for the 2025 prep football season was that Gulfport would be heading to historic R.H. Watkins Stadium in week three.

The trip to Laurel on Sept. 12th, to face the Golden Tornadoes, “Between the Bricks”, is the first for the Admirals in 26 years, since 1999. It also marks the first meeting between the two teams in 25 years, since the 2000 season.

Rebels or Patriots?

About 16 years ago or so, Jackson Forest Hill changed its nickname from Rebels to the Patriots.

Whether or not that was a small detail of note for teams in the “Southern Six” or not it prevented a first ever “Rebels vs. Rebels” encounter this season when George County joins Region 3-6A.

The Rebels from Lucedale will travel to South Jackson Field in Raymond to close out the regular season on Thursday, Nov. 6th, against the home-standing Patriots.

It marks the first-ever meeting on the football field between the two programs.

Bulldogs and Rangers

Also, another “Southern Six” squad will be facing a team from the Jackson area on the gridiron for the first time in history as well.

When Vancleave travels to Richland in week two on Friday, Sept. 5th, it will mark the first time those two programs have ever faced off on the football field also.

The Bulldogs return to Region 4-5A play this season while the Rangers compete in Region 6-4A.

Renewing match-ups

Speaking of Vancleave in Region 4-5A, both the Bulldogs and longtime arch-rival Hornets will be renewing rivalries with a new member of that league this season

Northeast Jones is one of of two new members of the region along with Purvis. In week six, when Vancleave welcomes the Tigers into the revamped region in the league opener for both on Friday, Oct., 10th, it will be the first meeting on the football field between the Bulldogs and NEJ in 17 years, since 2008.

Also, when East Central heads to Laurel the next week it will mark the first meeting between the Hornets and Tigers in 10 years and also the first-ever regular season meeting on the gridiron between the two programs in history.