By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

BILOXI — The 101st all-time meeting on the football field between Pascagoula and Biloxi is this week’s “Vertical Raise Game of the Week” for SouthMiss6 Sports.

Each week during the prep football season, SouthMiss6 Sports will feature a “GOTW” sponsored by Vertical Raise, the premier online fundraising platform for athletic teams and associated clubs and supporters of all ages.

As Pascagoula travels to Biloxi in this renewal of an old Big Eight Conference rivalry, it’ll mark the 101st meeting ever on the gridiron between the schools. The series is the longest-running rivalry for the Panthers in football, and the second longest for the Indians who will play long time arch-rival Gulfport for the 103rd time this season next month.

Pascagoula clobbered Moss Point 47-0 on the road last week, while the Indians fell at home to Holmes County Central 33-30. The Panthers hammered the visiting Indians 44-3 last season, in what was the largest winning margin in 64 years in the all-time series since a 47-6 PHS win in 1960.

“Biloxi is a very well-coached team that is staffed by hall of fame coaches that prepare their team really well,” veteran PHS head coach Lewis Sims said, before practice on Wednesday. Their quarterback (Jordan Ramsey) is very athletic and throws the ball well. He delivers on time.”

The game is billed as a battle between two standout running backs. Panther tailback Amarie Jackson had 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns against MPHS last week.

Biloxi junior running back Jo Jo Thomas ran for 182 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t quite enough for the Indians Friday night in the first-ever meeting between the two programs on the football field.

“Thomas averaged almost eight yards a carry last week,” Sims added. “He runs behind his pads and makes cuts like Barry Sanders. Their offensive line is strong and plays with great technique. They do a good job of driving people off the ball.”

Pascagoula held Moss Point to negative 46 yards on the ground last week in pitching the shutout. The Panthers are looking to begin a season at 2-0 for the third straight season.Biloxi lost its first season-opener since 2022.

As the premier online fundraising platform, Vertical Raise utilizes the newest technology through a tested combination of email, text and social media campaigns to maximize the reach of your fundraiser.

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We look forward to partnering with you to elevate your organization to its full potential! Please contact your local fundraising rep Ricky Cunningham at 228-263-4755 for more information.