By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BAY ST. LOUIS — Current St. Stanislaus head coach Tate Thigpen is the sixth mentor to guide the Rock-A-Chaw program in the past 13 seasons.

And despite having those half-dozen head coaches in that span, SSC has been a steady presence in the state playoffs, qualifying for the postseason for the past 12 years as well.

Thigpen and his troops hope that streak reaches a lucky 13 this season.

“We’ve got some key pieces coming back from last season but we will also have some young kids stepping up into new roles as well this year,” Thigpen, who guided the Rocks to a 4-7 overall record last season and a fourth place finish in Region 8-3A, said. The season ended for the Rocks on the road at perennial state power Noxubee County with a 42-3 loss in the opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs, as SSC went 0-6 on the road last year.

“We’ve put a whole lot of time in in the off season on the basics, on getting back to the fundamentals,” Thigpen added. “Like most Class 3A schools, we’ll have some guys that will play a lot of snaps.”

  One of those youngsters that Thigpen spoke of is slated to be the starting signal-caller for his Rocks, in freshman Javien Thompson. Thompson started the final game against NCHS in place of Sam Grant. Grant, just a junior last season, led SSC in almost all offensive categories before getting hurt late in the season and transferring out at Christmas break.

Thompson will look to one of those veterans that his head coach talked about in senior wide out Christian Haas for offensive support.

Also, senior stalwart lineman Garren Couey will be counted on up front in the trenches on both sides of the ball for the Rocks this season.

St. Stanislaus returns to a revamped Region 8-3A this season, a loop that saw some historical changes that may or may not bode well for holdover members of the league, although there was just one change as Perry Central leaves and former private school powerhouse Presbyterian Christian enters.

Region 8-3A:

St. Stanislaus

St. Patrick

Presbyterian Christian

Tylertown

West Marion

The Rocks return four starters each on offense and defense this season.

“I’m excited for the potential of this group,” Thigpen concluded. “I feel like we are building for the future just as much as we are trying to win this season.”

St. Stanislaus opens the season at home on Friday, Aug., 29th, against Forrest County AHS.