By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

GULFPORT — The Gulfport Admirals 6-2 (4-0) scored a touchdown on a blocked Biloxi 2-6 (1-3) field goal attempt as Javon Anderson picked up the football at his one-yard line and ran 99 yards down the Gulfport sideline with 3 seconds left on the clock before halftime. That score put the Admirals up 28-0 going into halftime on their way to a 35-0 shutout homecoming win.

Running back Cooper Crosby had a huge night for the Admirals, rushing for 134 yards and two touchdowns and also scoring on a 15-yard reception to open the game’s scoring. His first running score was for 77-yards through the line of scrimmage then down the visitors’ sideline as the first quarter came to an end to give the Admirals a 14-0 lead.

Crosby’s second rushing score came late in the third quarter following a Biloxi fumble recovered by Gulfport deep in Biloxi territory. Crosby punished the Biloxi’ defense on the very next play with a 13-yard off-tackle run through the line of scrimmage.

“Great resilience,” said Gulfport coach Blake Pennock. “I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Biloxi, they came out and played really hard. Credit to coach (Jamey) Dubose and their staff. We got going a little slow with some obvious dropped passes early, but the way we finished the half was just awesome.”

The Admirals failed to pick up a first down on their first two possessions, but on their third possession, sophomore Cordarious Payton picked up 15 yards on a reverse, and that was the first of five first downs on eight snaps before Parker Nettles connected with Crosby for the Admirals’ first score.

“They were teeing off on us, and we weren’t doing a great job,” said Pennock. “That kind of settled our guys in and let them chill out a little bit. It kind of let us get into our rhythm offensively and we got going from there.”

Nettles would also have a big night, completing 15 of 19 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He connected with Cooper Gouin from 13 yards out with two and half minutes remaining on the second quarter clock to give the Admirals a 21-0 lead.

Biloxi would get a 23-yard kickoff return by William Lai to the Biloxi 41-yard line. Junior quarterback Jordan Ramsey would follow that play with a 28-yard keeper after he couldn’t find an open receiver.

The Indians would advance the ball to the Admirals 10-yard line, but that was as far as they would get after three incomplete passes. On fourth down the Indians attempted a field goal. Gulfport’s interior line would record the block, and it landed at the one-yard line, and that’s where Anderson would make the heads-up play, picking it up, scanning the field, then outracing everybody down the Gulfport sideline for the score.

“They had a really good game plan,” said Biloxi coach Jamey Dubose. “They’re playing really good right now. They’re a really good football team. We struggled a little bit off and on, find a way to get behind the sticks sometimes. We kind of hurt ourselves: the fumble on the one drive, couple of other drives, we couldn’t get free from them.

“Five’s an explosive player (Crosby) for them, and they’re a complete football team,” said Dubose.

Biloxi will host West Harrison next Friday. Gulfport travels to D’Iberville next Friday.