By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer
PASCAGOULA — In a match-up of a pair of teams that have struggled some through the first month of the season, Gulfport overpowered home-standing Pascagoula 53-13 Friday night.
With the win at War Memorial Stadium, the Admirals move to 2-2 overall while the Panthers dropped their fourth straight game and sit at 1-4.
Gulfport standout senior running back Cooper Crosby ran for three scores and caught another in the blowout win, which marked the 100th meeting all-time on the football field between the two long-running rivals.
The game marked the last non-region contest of the season for both teams.

Gulfport recorded a safety, booted a field goal and got a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Crosby as well as a 29-yard scoring strike from quarterback Parker Nettles to crosby to jump out to a 19-0 lead mid-way through the second quarter. Pascagoula kept it fairly close in the first half as Panther linebacker-turned-quarterback Jarrd Loper scored on a 7-yard dash. The play was set up when Loper hooked up with PHS wide out La’Darion Pickett on a 54-yard pass that put the ball at the GHS seven.
That 19-7 halftime deficit, though, would be as close as the home team would get.
The Admirals opened the second half with two straight scores thanks to a pair of Panther turnovers on their first two possessions.

Gulfport linebacker Cortell Crandle recovered a Loper fumble at the PHS 25-yard line, and three plays later Pierre Felder raced untouched through the middle of the line for a 19-yard touchdown.
Suddenly, it was 26-7.
Minutes later, GHS linebacker Deandre Williams dislodged the ball from Loper as he dropped back to pass and teammate Javon Anderson fell on the loose ball at the PHS 20.
Three plays later, Nettles hit Javious Hales with a 9-yard touchdown toss and the game was out of reach at 33-7.
Loper did hit Pickett with a scoring pass in the fourth period to complete the scoring for PHS.

Crosby added a short touchdown run for GHS in the final quarter and Cordarius Payton dashed 92-yards for a score. Also, Gulfport’s Isiah Ellison scampered 53-yards for a touchdown to end the scoring.

All four of Pascagoula’s losses came to Region 4-7A foes. The 53 points scored by GHS is the most ever against PHS in this series that dates back to 1918. The previous record stood just three years, after a 48-24 GHS win in 2022.