By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

There were a few eye-opening numbers that we noticed in the opening week of the prep football season.

First, Pascagoula continued its dominance in the annual “Battle of the Cats” against arch-rival Moss Point with a dominating 47-0 win on Dantzler St,, in the 85th renewal of the long-running affair.

That is five straight wins in the series for the Panthers, a number matched for the second longest such streak by PHS in series history for just the third time ever, but the second time in the past 15 seasons.

A six game streak by PHS from 1951-1956 is the longest on that side of the ledger, while MPHS has won six straight as well twice (1991-1995 and 1997-2002).

The biggest number that sticks out, though, is that the 47-0 thumping this season combined with a 48-0 win by PHS last season and a 31-0 decision in 2023 leaves the count at 126-0 over the last three meetings, which is the largest such three game deficit in the 100-year history of the series.

• Pearl River Central hasn’t had enough success in football over the past decade to have win streak on anyone, except Bay High. In fact, the Tigers are the only one. But a 49-0 win Friday over the visitors from BHS as well as a 56-35 win last year on the road, means that the 105 points that the Blue Devils have combined to score against BHS is the most over one opponent in back-to-back years since recording 108 points in a two game win span over Long Beach in 2021 and 2022. PRC thumped the Bearcats 60-7 in 2021 and 48-14 in 2022.
• St. Martin, which hasn’t had much success on the gridiron recently either, kicked off the Woody Cagnolatti era in fine fashion with a 64-21 road win over Vancleave. That point total is a new record for the Yellow Jackets in the 67-year history of the program. The barrage nipped the 63 points SMHS registered in a 63-14 win over West Harrison in 2020 and a 63-55 win over East Central in 2016.
• Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, it hadn’t been that long since they’d allowed that type of production after a 69-42 loss to Picayune in 2021. It did mark the most points the Bulldogs have given up at home in almost four decades, since losing to St. John 68-37 in 1986.
• St. Patrick stepped out of MHSAA action Friday night and took on intra-county foe Coastal Christian Academy in what was the first game of 11 man football ever for the Bulldogs. The move was apparently a good one for the Fighting Irish, as the 42-0 win snapped the 14 game losing streak for SPHS, which was the longest in the “Southern Six” coming into the season. CCA heads to Pascagoula to face Resurrection this week.
• Speaking of Bay High, last week the Tigers and neighborhood rival St. Stanislaus each had inauspicious starts. The Rocks and Tigers combined to allow 88 points in losses to Forrest County AHS and PRC, respectively, after SSC fell 39-3 to visiting Forrest County AHS. This week, the two teams will meet in the annual “Battle for the Crab Trap”. Something has to give…

“Super 7” in the “Southern 6”

Every Tuesday through the first week in December, we will publish our “Super 7 in the Southern 6” weekly poll involving all 24 prep football teams in our coverage area.

The weekly poll is the only one in the state that is voted on by a panel of veteran sportswriters, a few selected area coaches and other media members.

This week is the rankings for 9-3-2025.

“Super 7 in the Southern 6 Poll”

1. Picayune
2. Ocean Springs
3. Pascagoula
4. Gautier
5. West Harrison
6. Stone
7. Gulfport and Poplarville (Tie)

(Others receiving votes: D’Iberville, Pass Christian, PRC, St. Martin, Biloxi)