By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

MOSS POINT — If Friday night’s 85th annual “Battle of the Cats” is indeed the final one for veteran Pascagoula head coach Lewis Sims, his Panthers certainly sent him out in fine fashion.

Visiting Pascagoula jumped out to a commanding 25-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 47-0 win over the Tigers here at Dantzler Stadium. The win pushed the Panthers win streak in the series to five straight, the second such streak in Sims’ 15 year tenure at PHS since he left his alma mater MPHS and landed across Jefferson Street.

Also, it marks the third straight shutout for PHS in the series, the first time that has happened in over 70 years since 1951-1953. Pascagoula stands just one win away from tying the all-time win streak by one side in the all-time series of six straight wins from 1951-1956.

Pascagoula has now out-scored Moss Point 126-0 over the past three games.

“Our defense swarmed to the ball and forced them into some difficult situations,” Sims said. ” I loved our effort all the way around. We can enjoy this for 24 hours and then it is time to turn our attention to Biloxi. Be 1-0 and earn everything everyday with discipline, dedication, and determination, D3, which I learned playing for Coach (Billy Wayne) Miller at Moss Point

The Panthers caused a trio of fumbles in the first half to help them take that commanding lead.
Moss Point recovered an on-sides kickoff to start the game, but just a few plays later Pascagoula linebacker Jonathan Shelby fell on a Tiger fumble at his own 34 yard line.
Four Plays later, Panther standout tailback Amarie Jackson scored on a 3-yard jaunt to make it 6-0 just four minutes into the game.

New Panther quarterback Jason Glaude got into the act early in the second stanza when he hit wide out Darius Carter with a 9-yard touchdown pass and the lead was 13-0.
Panther defenders Ireyion Harvey (interception) and Creevy Harness (fumble) also came up with Tiger miscues in the second period.
Jackson’s 32-yard run with 3:41 left before halftime made it 19-0. Glaude then hit running back Sean Norvell with a 23-yard screen pass for a score three minutes to end the half at 25-0.
With some fans already heading for the exits as the second half began, Jackson’s 27-yard scoring scamper on first PHS possession in the third frame pushed the Pascagoula lead to 32-0.
A safety and a 21-yard scoring run by Norvell made it 41-0 less than half-way through the third frame.

A 74-yard scoring strike from Glaude to La’darious Pickett ended the scoring.

Sims is now 14-2 overall in this series all-time as a head coach, tying him up with former MPHS head coach Jerry Alexander.

“I am humbled and honored to tie Coach Alexander on his field,” Sims, a former MPHS linebacker, said. “Both teams played hard and I’m just happy we were able to execute and get our play makers the ball.”