By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — For the first time in 15 years, a new head coach will be in place when the Pascagoula High football team takes the field to kick off a new season.

Former Gulfport defensive coordinator Zach Green, fresh off of helping lead the Admirals to the Class 7A state title last year, took over after the retirement of veteran Panther head coach Lewis Sims who stepped down after 15 seasons leading PHS.

Now, it’s Green’s turn, in his first-ever job as a head coach, to put his stamp on the PHS program.

‘I’d had my eye on Pascagoula for quite some time,” Green said, in a recent interview. “It’s a football town. The closer we get to the season starting the more exciting it gets. We’ve got a great group of guys and this is a great football community.”

Pascagoula has qualified for the state playoffs three straight seasons and finished second the past two years in Region 4-6A behind perennial state power Picayune. The Panthers finished just an even 6-6 overall last year, but that came after a rough 1-5 start and PHS finished the regular season with four straight wins and then added another victory in the opening round of the Class 6A South state playoffs.

Gone from that team is a large group of seniors that much of that success could be attributed to, including leading rusher Amarie Jackson, starting quarterback/linebacker Jarrad Loper, leading receiver D’lass Nunnery and three out of five starting offensive lineman.

Pascagoula also only returns three starters on defense.

“This team lost a lot but there is still a lot of talent coming back,” Green added. “People are saying we’re gonna be down, but I’ve seen down. And Pascagoula isn’t down.”

Offensively, Green is excited about Jason Glaude stepping in at quarterback again. He saw some playing time as a freshman before inheriting the starting job last year as a sophomore, but was injured very early in the season and never fully recovered.

“Jason has surprised me the most with his progress from January until now,” Green said.

Glaude will have a pair of explosive weapons at his disposal, in senior running back Sean Norvel and versatile classmate Kevin Marshall, who transferred over from St. Martin.

Norvel should have his time to shine in the backfield year after he split time with Jackson the past two years. He registered just over 1,100 all- purpose yards as a junior last season. His biggest contribution was on the ground, as he notched 856 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. He also pulled in 183 yards in receptions. Those 131 rushing attempts resulted in four 100 yard games, as well as a average of almost 7 yards per carry. He also caught two touchdown passes as well.

Green indicated that he wants the Panthers to concentrate on having a powerful ground game, and Norvell should be the bell cow in that process.

Marshall should see time in the backfield, perhaps at running back and quarterback, as well as out-wide and at safety on defense. Marshall had 85 tackles, including four tackles for loss, with two interceptions and two forced fumbles in the secondary, while he also produced 500 all-purpose yards and scored four times in the backfield and out wide on offense seeing time at quarterback, running back and wide receiver for SMHS last season.

His versatility has made coaches from Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Tulane, West Virginia and several other programs take notice.

Gluade will look to tight end Kaden Martin and wide out Keelan Harper, among others, when he takes to the air. Harper was the starting quarterback at Moss Point last year. BraylynBelcher will be in the mix outside also.

The Panthers will look to returning center Julian Bolton to lead the way up front on what will be an inexperienced offensive line for the most part.

Defensively, linebackers Jonathan Shelby and Creevy Harness top the returnees after they combined for over 200 total tackles last year. Emauri Anderson is back on the D line.

The Panthers hope Marshall’s addition to the secondary can help off set the loss of All-State standout Tylan Wilson, who signed with Texas A&M.  

On special teams, PHS seems in good hands with Miles Sprague, who had 42 kickoff attempts for 1,145 yards and converted 43 point after attempts and three field goals last season.

“I want us to show that we are a physical team on both sides of the ball,” Green concluded. “We want to pound the rock on offense and on defense we want to be very aggressive and get after you on every play.”

Green has his sights set on specific goals as he enters his first foray in the head coaching world as PHS looks to get back to the South State championship round for the first time in six years.

“We want to get over the second round playoff hump, which has been an issue for a long time here,” he concluded. “The ultimate goal is a state championship, but there is a process involved to get there. I’m excited about the pieces we have in place to get the season started, and we can’t wait to kick it off.”

The Panthers do just that against arch-rival Moss Point in the annual “Battle of the Cats” at home on Fri., Aug. 28th.