By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — This week’s 77th annual Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football classic will have a decided “Southern Six” flair.

As many as 14 senior standout “Southern Six” products representing 10 different high schools were involved in selecting the South squad in the long-running contest, which is set for 11:30 Saturday morning here in this Port City at historic Milner Stadium.

The selections for both the Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football Game and last week’s prestigious Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Football Classic were announced at a press conference here at the offices of the Mississippi Association of Coaches in early October to begin preparation for the game. Each squad consists of 42 players selected by Mississippi Association members.

The game features a North-South format and the South leads the series 37-30-5. There were four years in which the North/South format was not utilized.

The 2025 Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star Football Game will be livestreamed through FNUTL.com.  It will also be available through the MAC Network, Roku, AppleTV, YouTube & Firestick.  ​

Those originally selected for the game from the South are:

Parker Nettles QB Gulfport

Jordan Stapleton RB West Harrison

John Feaster Jr. WR PRC

D’Lass Nunnery WR Pascagoula

Hayden Ainsworth OL Biloxi

Cohyn Meyers OL Ocean Springs

Javen Bolden DL Picayune

Jaquan Thompson LB Biloxi

Caleb Triplett LB D’Iberville

Yusef Colding LB St. Martin

Sharroid Whitehead Ath Ocean Springs

Peyton Williams PK Ocean Springs

In addition, Pass Christian wide out Dwight Thomas was added to the roster soon after the original rosters were announced when Ainsworth declined the invitation.

And, Hancock quarterback Kaison Koenenn was recently added after being the top vote-getter in a contest implemented by the MAC in which participants were charged to vote for players.

Also, Picayune head coach Cody Stogner will be a member of the South coaching staff.

Players reported Wednesday afternoon for orientation. After meetings Wednesday afternoon, each team began on-field preparations Wednesday night with the first of five practices.

Last year, The North squad broke the South’s four-year winning streak in the 76th Bernard Blackwell Football Classic with a 16-13 win at Milner Stadium on Saturday.

The North team, which was the home team and coached by Ripley’s Perry Liles, took the lead early in the second quarter at 14-13, and they held the visitors scoreless the rest of the way.