By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — In the 16 year history of the West Harrison football program, the Hurricanes have never been able to find their way into the state playoffs.

However, after knocking on the postseason door the past three seasons, head coach Quincy Patrick hopes his crew can make history as it enters new territory.

West Harrison moves up into Class 7A for the first time ever this year.

When the new region realignments were announced for the 2025-2027 school years by the Mississippi High School Activities Association,

Almost every one of the 24 “Southern Six” sanctioned high schools by the MHSAA were affected in some form or fashion by the bi-annual reclassification process but none more so than the Hurricanes.

Perhaps the biggest headline when the new league configurations were announced was that Harrison Central was allowed to stay in the Gulf Coast loop and not sent north for the first time ever which had been rumored for quite some time in the Fall.

What that decision did, was for the first-time in the short history of seven classifications in the state meant that Region 4-7A will consist of seven members in all sports for the next two years.

After just two seasons of having six members in Region 4-7A with four of those qualifying for the state playoffs seven squads will battle it out for the quartet of postseason slots.

It will also mark the first time since a state-wide prep football playoff system was implemented some 45 years ago in the state that the largest classification of competition on the Gulf Coast will consist of seven members giving all members six league games.

So as Region 4-7A play begins in August in several sports, no new members will line-up in Region 4-7A but the league will still have a new look and a new feel as football season starts.

In football especially, the teams will play one less non-region game in a trade-off to accommodate having a new league foe in the Hurricanes.

And while the Hurricanes have played all other six schools on the football field before in their history on the gridiron, West Harrison is a combined 2-20 overall against Biloxi, D’Iberville, Gulfport, Harrison Central, Ocean Springs and Hancock.

The Greyhounds have won both Region 4-7A regular season titles so far, and have won four straight league crowns going back to the final two years of Region 4-6A play as well.

But West Harrison will employ one of its most talented rosters ever this season as it hopes to earn that initial playoff berth.

““We’re going to be physical,” Patrick said in a recent interview. “I mean, that’s the one thing we can control. We control our effort and our physicality.”

Patrick will have a pair of seniors leading the way this season..

Offensively, Hurricane running back Jordan Stapleton is one of the top returning ball carriers in the state as he enter his senior season with the Hurricanes.

He topped the “Southern Six” in rushing last season with an eye-popping 2,003 yards on the ground in just 10 games, for an average of just over 200 yards per contest at almost 12 yards per carry and 23 touchdowns.

While his rushing marks were single season records for the WHHS program, he was also a bit of a threat coming out of the backfield to keep opposing defensive units off balance through the passing game as he accounted for 352 yards in receptions and three more scores giving him 26 total touchdowns last season.

He has received offers from Tulane, New Mexico State, Jackson State and Alcorn State as well as a host of jucos in the state.

Defensively, fellow senior defensive lineman Jazear Carter is a talented multi-sport standout for the Hurricanes who, despite his exploits inside the paint on the basketball court, has drawn much attention on the gridiron for his prowess in stopping opposing ball carriers.

He recently committed to Navy over several other offers including Army, Southern Miss, Air Force, and Alcorn State.

Carter had a high motor all season long last year as he patrolled the trenches inside and out along the defensive front for the Hurricanes and he ended up eclipsing the magical 100 total tackle plateau with 101 total stops, including 24 tackles for loss.

West Harrison begins its season on the road in Poplarville facing the home-standing Hornets on Fri., Aug. 29th, who are also the defending Class 4A state champs.