By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

LUCEDALE — George County has arguably more top players to replace this season than any other prep football team in the “Southern Six”

And, the Rebels will have to do that with a new head coach and in a new region.

Kelly Causey was elevated from defensive coordinator to head coach just a few months ago, after what amounted to a four month saga that featured three different men serving as the head football coach at George County High School during that span. He replaces Jonathan Ray, who resigned to join the GCHS administration.

Causey takes over as a head coach again for the first time since 2019, and for the first time in the “Southern Six” since he left Pass Christian 17 years ago. He has been part of the GCHS staff for the past five years.

“I’ve been doing this 31 years including 17 as a head coach,” Causey said, during a recent interview. “Stepping back into the role as a head coach is something I wanted to do one more time. I was fortunate enough that they gave me a chance to do that. I’ve been here for a few years so it’s been a good transition.”

But gone are all-star quarterback Deuce Knight and other speedy play-makers like Brenn Moody and Montrell Dortch as well as defensive back Kohl Bradley plus defensive lineman Tyneke Davis and linebacker and leading tackler Blaine Green.

In fact, the Rebels return just four starters on both sides of the ball.

Thankfully, though, one of those key performers coming back is a bull of a running back in Branden Gautier.

All Gautier did last season was become the first Rebel in at least 10 years to eclipse the magical 1,000 yard mark with 1,105 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is expected to carry the load offensively for a GCHS offense that is expected to be much more run-oriented this season. Gautier ran for

Also in Lucedale, the Rebels will look for big things out of D.J. McNair who produced just over 1,200 all-purpose yards with nine touchdowns last season. His biggest impact came out wide, as he registered 38 pass receptions for 863 yards.

And, quarterback Wyatt Spidahl is in the mix to be the one responsible for getting the ball in the hands of the likes of Gautier and McNair, after he saw action in eight games last season for various reasons and threw for four scores.

The defense gets back linebacker Kamari McCann along with Braylon Fairley in the secondary who hauled in two interceptions.

George County joins Region 3-6A this season after finishing third in Region 4-6A last year, when the Rebels went 7-6 and snapped a 17-year drought without a playoff win. They beat defending Class 6A state champ West Jones on the road 26-22 to open the postseason, before falling to Picayune 63-40.

The Kelly Causey era at GCHS kicks off on Fri., Aug. 29th when the Rebels host Gautier High at Gill-Martin Stadium.