By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — Even though in the 16 year history of the West Harrison football program the Hurricanes still haven’t made the state playoffs, the upcoming season is set to be an historic one on the gridiron for the Hurricanes no matter how it ends.

West Harrison has moved up a level to Class 7A, and for the first time ever will be competing in the largest classification in the state.

Also, the Class 7A debut for the Hurricanes will be historic as well.

West Harrison travels to Poplarville to face the home-standing Hornets on Fri., Aug. 29th, and not only will it mark the first-ever meeting on the football field between the Hurricanes and Hornets but it’ll be the first time the Hornets step on the field as state champions.

Poplarville, the defending Class 4A state champs, will take on West Harrison in the first-ever game for the Hurricanes as a Class 7A program.

In addition, West Harrison’s second opponent this season is a new addition to the all-time opponent list as well as the Hurricanes head to Forest High to face another Class 4A foe.

After renewing its rivalry with Gautier the next week, WHHS will close out its pre-region portion of its schedule on Friday, Sept. 19th, by hosting Laurel in week four.

That meeting will also be the first-ever between the Hurricanes and the Golden Tornadoes on the gridiron.

Week One

That West Harrison-Poplarville game is one of eight opening week contests pitting a pair of “Southern Six” squads against one another to kick off the new campaign.

That’s the most such match-ups in week one in almost two decades.

The other seven games are Picayune at Gulfport, Pascagoula at Moss Point, St. Martin at Vancleave, Gautier at George County, Bay High at Pearl River Central, Long Beach at Pass Christian and Stone at Hancock.