By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

STARKVILLE — After leading his Gulfport team to its first-ever Class 7A state championship over the weekend, Admirals head coach Blake Pennock was honored for the historic milestone.

Pennock, in his third year at the helm of the Admirals, was named Class 7A Coach of the Year Sunday. The prestigious annual award as well as the All-State teams are voted on voted on by coaches around the state who are members of the Mississippi Association of Coaches. 

In addition to Pennock, his top offensive stalwart running back Cooper Crosby was also named Class 7A First Team All-State. Crosby was joined on the First Team offensive unit by a pair of Ocean Springs standouts, in tight end Hayden Berglind and offensive lineman Jayden Ross. And, D’Iberville versatile junior standout Jordan Walley was named as the Athlete on the First Team as well.

On defense, another member of the state championship GHS team leads the way in Admiral top tackler Andre Peters at linebacker. He is joined by fellow linebacker Caleb Triplett of D’Iberville, as well as St. Martin defensive lineman Jayden Curtis.

Another eight “Southern Six” product were selected Class 7A Second Team All-State. Those players are listed by position below.

CLASS 7A

Coach of the Year: Blake Pennock, Gulfport

Offensive Player of the Year: J.J. Hill, RB, Sr., Tupelo

Defensive Player of the Year: Linkin Sanders, LB, Sr., Horn Lake

First Team Offense

King White, QB, Sr., Germantown

Cooper Crosby, RB, Sr., Gulfport

Kylin Bobo, RB, Jr., Tupelo

De’Shawn Dillon, WR, Jr., Northwest Rankin

Keyshaun Coleman, WR, Sr., Germantown

Kingston Gregory, WR, Sr., Oxford

Hayden Berglind, TE, Sr., Ocean Springs

Jayden Ross, OL, Sr., Ocean Springs

Marcus Johnson, OL, Sr., Madison Central

Tre Shaw, OL, Sr., Oak Grove

Everrett Turnage, OL, Jr., Germantown

Antonio Berry, OL, Jr., Tupelo

Jordan Walley, ATH, Jr., D’Iberville

Michael Thompson, PK, Jr., Oxford

Second Team Offense

Parker Nettles, QB, Sr., Gulfport

Solomon Baggett, RB, Sr., Ocean Springs

Tyson Robinson, RB, Jr., Brandon

Lawson Branson, WR, Sr., Germantown

Sharriod Whitehead, WR, Sr., Ocean Springs

Kevin Smith, WR, So., Oxford

Will Harris, TE, Sr., Germantown

Malcolm Barnett, OL, Sr., Oxford

Ayden Newell, OL, Sr., Brandon

Hayden Ainsworth, OL, Sr., Biloxi

Carldarius Hall, OL, Jr., Tupelo

Cohyn Myers, OL, Sr., Ocean Springs

Cade Rodgers, ATH, Jr., DeSoto Central

Ross Beavers, PK, Jr., Madison Central

First Team Defense

JaReylan McCoy, DL, Sr., Tupelo

Corey Wells, DL, Sr., Petal

Jayden Curtis, DL, Sr., St. Martin

Davon Merchant, DL, Sr., Clinton

Devontray Brewer, LB, Jr., Tupelo

Andre Peters, LB, Sr., Gulfport

Ronderius King, LB, Sr., Madison Central

Caleb Triplett, LB, Sr., D’Iberville

Collin Flanigan, DB, Sr., Oxford

Preston Ashley, DB, Sr., Brandon

Iverson McCoy, DB, Sr., Tupelo

Tre McQueen, DB, Jr., Brandon

Gunner Gillentine, P, Jr., Petal

Jouston Foster, KR, Jr., Murrah

Fisher Giles, LS, Sr., Oxford

Second Team Defense

Jazear Carter, DL, Sr., West Harrison

Keevon Jacobs, DL, Sr., Madison Central

Donovan Hawkins, DL, Sr., Tupelo

Devan Robertson, DL, Jr., Oak Grove

Travion Washington, LB, So., Brandon

Sabin Williams, LB, Sr., Horn Lake

Kaiden Buchanan, LB, So., Tupelo

Corey Wiggins, LB, Jr., Madison Central

Will Shoemake, DB, Sr., Madison Central

Mike Johnson, DB, Sr., Germantown

Jy Moore, SS, Sr., Petal

J.Q. Harrell, FS, Sr., Tupelo

Peyton Williams, P, Sr., Ocean Springs

Cordarius Payton, KR, So., Gulfport

Conner Ellis, LS, Jr., Petal