By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GAUTIER — Gautier has played in three straight Class 5A South State championship games, but it’s a certainty that the Gators will not repeat that feat this coming season.

That’s because the Gators were moved up a level in the recent reclassification process by the Mississippi High School Activities Association and will now be in Class 6A.

And, if the Gators hope to return to the state championship round after achieving that status last season in Class 5A, then they’ll have to do it in a new league while facing an almost completely new schedule as well.

Veteran Gators head coach Marc High and his troops have compiled a 30-13 record over those last three campaigns with seven postseason wins. It’s a record only surpassed by the 1997-1999 team, as those teams were the first three football squads ever in school history and they went 34-3, but won just two playoff games during that span.

“We’re playing a few teams we haven’t played in a few years,” High said. “It’s gonna make for a fun and interesting season.”

Gautier will compete in the newly revamped Region 4-6A with arch-rival Pascagoula, perennial state power Picayune, Long Beach, Hancock and another newcomer in Pearl River Central.

The annual “Singing River Classic” between school district partners Pascagoula and Gautier will move from early in the season to the regular season finale.

In non region play, the Gators will also keep Jackson County rival Moss Point on its new slate next year, as well as facing D’Iberville for the third straight season.

In addition, George County, West Harrison and Greene County also return to Gautier’s slate next season after a brief hiatus for each.

Gautier and PRC replaced the Rebels and Hurricanes in Region 4-6A, as GCHS moved into Region 3-6A and WHHS moved up to Class 7A.