By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

The prep football season is winding down. We know this because we can already smell the Thanksgiving dinner of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gumbo…but NO cranberry sauce.

And, as usual, Rock’s Locks is back to fill y’all in on it all.

Rock’s Locks is back in South Mississippi for yet another prep football season. Rock’s Locks was a steady feature in several daily newspapers (remember those?) across South Mississippi for much of the past three decades and has been a part of the journalistic fabric of prep football across the “Southern Six” for most of that time frame as well. Each week we will attempt to provide some insight with some prep pigskin prognosticator picks and provide you readers with much material to ridicule me with I am sure.

Rock’s Locks went a solid 10-3 last week, to move to 121-38 so far for a winning percentage of 76% on the season. Again, it’s “go big or go home for the seven teams left in the “Southern Six”…

In the words of Todd Snider…”A little out of place, and little out of tune, sorta lost in space, racin’ the moon…”

1. Pascagoula at Hattiesburg (Game of the Week) — This match-up marks the third straight season that the Panthers travel to D.I. Patrick Stadium in the Hub City to battle the Tigers in the Class 6A South State playoffs. Plus, it marks the second consecutive season the match-up takes place in the Class 6A South State semifinals. Two years ago, Pascagoula pulled out a close one point win over home-standing Hattiesburg 7-6 in the opening round. Last year, the Tigers got some revenge, turning back the Panthers 33-17 en route to the state title game. Hattiesburg comes into the week at 9-2, while Pascagoula is a solid 6-5 but on a five game win streak. The winner of this one will face the winner of the Picayune-Hancock contest next week in the South State finals. This marks the 56th all-time meeting in a series that’s just about as even as it can get with Hattiesburg up 26-26-1. In something similar to two years ago…Pascagoula 24, Hattiesburg 23.
2. Hancock at Picayune — A rematch between these two Region 4-6A rivals as they meet in the same venue for the second time in five weeks.Picayune thumped Hancock in regular season play 59-28, and that puts the Maroon Tide up 14-3 all-time in the series. The winner of this one will face the winner of the Pascagoula-Hattiesburg contest next week in the Class 6A South State finals. Picayune is 9-2, while the Hawks, who are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time eight years, stand 5-6 overall but have won five out of their last seven games after staring the season off at 0-4. Picayune head coach Cody Stogner is 3-0 in November rematches of regular season match-ups, and we don’t see that changing…Picayune 45, Hancock 31.
3. Petal at Gulfport — Yet another rematch in the “Southern Six” from an earlier season match-up pits the Admirals against the Panthers at historic Milner Stadium in the Class 7A South State semifinals. Petal nipped home-standing Gulfport 25-24 in week three of the regular season on a last second field goal. The Admirals haven’t lost a game since the, reeling off seven eight straight wins to sit at 9-2. Petal is 8-4, but has lost two out of its past four games. The Panthers hold a commanding 10-2 advantage in a series that dates back to 2007. The winner of this game faces either Brandon or Oak Grove in the Class 7A South State finals next week. Gulfport hasn’t played in a South State championship game in 26 years, but that ends tonight…Gulfport 28, Petal 24.
4. Laurel at Stone — The Tomcats come in to this one on a seven game winning streak to face the Golden Tornadoes at A.L. May Stadium in Perkinston on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. These two teams were Region 4-5A foes for the prior two seasons until this year, when Laurel moved back up north into Region 3-5A. Last year, the Tomcats beat the Golden Tornadoes for the first time ever, with a 24-21 win that broke an 0-7 stretch vs. Laurel. Stone is 8-3 and Laurel is 5-6. The winner of this one will face either Brookhaven or Wayne County next week in the Class 5A South State finals. That will be…Stone 22, Laurel 20.
5. Pass Christian at Columbia — One of two HUGE Class 4A South State semifinal match-ups for “Southern Six” squads this week as the Pirates sail into Walter Payton Field to face the unbeaten Wildcats. Columbia is 12-0, while the Pass is 11-1 for the first time ever in program history. The Pirates have never beaten the Wildcats in four previous tries, with the last game coming in the 2023 state playoffs resulting in a 42-7 loss in the state playoffs.. Columbia 29, Pass Christian 27.
6. Poplarville at McComb — The second of two HUGE Class 4A South State semifinal match-ups for “Southern Six” squads this week as the defending class 4A state champ Hornets head to C.C. More Stadium to face the Tigers in yet another rematch from the regular season. McComb pulled out an exciting 35-34 win to open Region 7-4A action six weeks ago. The Tigers are 10-1, with their only loss to unbeaten Columba, while poplarville is 7-4. The winner of this one faces the Pass-Columbia survivor next week in the Class 4A South State finals. Poplarville 35, McComb 32.
7. Brandon at Oak Grove — The winner meets either Gulfport or Petal next week in the Class 7A South State championship contest. if the Warriors win, they’ll host again next week no matter whom the opponent is. A Bulldog win still ensures they remain on the road next week again no matter the foe. Oak Grove 31, Brandon 14.