By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

GULFPORT — Before a standing room only home side at Milner Stadium, in what may be the final game played in the historic venue, Cooper Crosby rushed for 183 yards on 18 carries and four touchdowns to lead the Gulfport Admirals to a 40-7 rout over the Brandon Bulldogs in the Class 7A South State championship game Friday night.

Crosby’s scores were emboldened by a very balanced offensive attack as senior quarterback Parker Nettles picked apart the Bulldogs’ secondary, completing 15 of eighteen passes for 246 yards and a touchdown.

Nettles completed three consecutive passes for gains of 14, 15 and 19 yards to get the Admirals down to the visitors’ 30-yard line on the game’s opening possession. Crosby capped that opening 5-play drive with a 30-yard burst through the middle of the line for the score.

“Obviously you try to load up and try to stop Cooper Crosby, which is what they tried to do,” said Admirals head coach Blake Pennock. “So, we come out in that first series and throw the ball just about every down and put it down the field. And then we go back and turn around on the second series and put it in his belly every play.

“It goes to show you the heater that we’re riding on offense, really excited about it,” said Pennock. “We’ve got to do it one more time, whoever we play. This team is playing really well right now. They’re playing together, and they’re playing with a ton of confidence.”

On the Admirals’ second possession, Crosby carried on six consecutive snaps on a 40-yard scoring drive to move the ball to the visitors’ 8-yard line. Nettles capped the 8-play drive with a play action pass to tight end Cooper Gouin from four yards out to give the Admirals a 14-0 lead.

The Admirals would score again as they opened the second quarter. The Admirals went to consecutive pass plays from Nettles to wide receivers Javious Hales for 11 yards, then to junior Camden Morgan for 18 yards.

Crosby would blast out of the backfield around the left side of the line for a 57-yard score to give the Admirals a 21-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Crosby would add his third touchdown of the night on the Admirals next possession as he capped the 65-yard drive with a 23-yard scoring run to put the Admirals up 27-0. Crosby was also on the receiving end of a 30-yard pass play from Hales earlier in that drive.

The Bulldogs had their best shot of a first-half score on their ensuing possession as they advanced the ball all the way to the Gulfport 4-yard line. But they would pick up two penalties – one on a holding call and the other on a personal foul. And it got even worse as Gulfport’s nose guard Lawrence Robertson would record his first of two sacks to back them up for an 11-yard loss. The Bulldogs would attempt a 46-yard field goal, but it came up short.

Nettles went to the air again on the Admirals’ ensuing possession, completing passes of 19, 21, 10, and 18 before he scored on a keeper from 11 yards out to close out the first half scoring at 33-0.

The Admirals’ defense would deny the Bulldogs a first down on their opening possession of the second half, forcing a punt. The Admirals fielded the kickoff at their own 14-yard line. From there, the Admirals once again mixed the pass and the run as Nettles completed passes of 8 and 41 yards, the latter to Morgan to the visitors’ 31 yard-line. Crosby would carry four consecutive snaps, including one carry for 17 yards before he would carry for a 1-yard score.

The Admirals will meet Tupelo in the 7A State Championship game in Starkville next Saturday.