By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — The Gulfport High football team brings a program record 11 game win streak into the new season, which starts later this week.

And, oh yeah, the Admirals are toting their first-ever state championship with them along the way.

After starting last season off at 1-2, Gulfport went on an historical 11 game win streak and claimed the Class 7A state title in thrilling fashion 21-20 over Starkville.

Now, with 22 seniors, including several top contributors, gone from that team, head coach Blake Pennock is looking to keep his Admirals on the high seas once again this season.

“This current team hasn’t accomplished anything so far,” Pennock said, in a recent interview. “What’s better than one state championship ring? Two. And even though we lost a lot from last year’s team, I think we have a lot of poise, a lot of maturity and a lot of guys coming back that know what excellence looks like and they want to maintain the standard we have set.”

The three biggest seniors the Admirals have to replace are running back Cooper Crosby, quarterback Blake Nettles and linebacker Andre Peters.

Crosby and Nettles combined for over 4,500 yards of total offense alone. And Peters led a ferocious GHS defense that was stellar down the stretch.

“We’ve got to continue to stay hungry, and be relentless.” Pennock, in his fourth year leading GHS, added. ““We have eight starters back on defense and I think six or seven right there on offense, and some key players like every receiver are back. We’ve got most of our front seven coming back and some key guys in the secondary coming back, so it’s an experienced team that’s been through the wars and played at the pinnacle.”

Offensively, Jackson Wolverton steps in for Nettles behind center, after seeing very little time as a freshman last year. He’ll be joined in the backfield by senior Amaji Frederick at running back, who gained 278 yards and scored twice last year which was second to Crosby’s 1,801 yards and 34 touchdowns.

Also, Biloxi’s leading rusher from last season, Jo Jo Thomas, transferred in to GHS this season.

The three guys out-wide that Pennock spoke about are all seniors in Javious Hales, Cam Morgan and Mylan Stubbs, each of whom hauled in at least 500 yards in catches from Nettles last season.

Monstrous tight end Travor Frost is new to the football team, but made some big plays for the GHS basketball team last season.

Up front, both Bruce Davis and Malachi Smith are back as returning starters on the offensive line.

Defensively, Cortell Crandle and Deandre Williams return at linebacker to help soften the blow of Peters’ absence. Williams had 111 total tackles last year and Crandle was right at 100 as well.

Patrolling the secondary, Cordarious Payton and Hales return to lead the way. Also, D’Iberville’s Jaylen Johnson transferred to Gulfport and could fit in at safety as well.

But, it’s up front in the trenches where the Admirals are loaded with what just might be the best defensive line in the state.

Lawrence Robertson leads the way, after making 91 stops last year, and he’s joined by both Nic Strickland and Jysavian Crosby.

“We have to continue to control the line of scrimmage,” Pennock continued. “I thought that was a separator for us last year.”

And, not to be left out, placekicker Carter Platt is back after he nailed 58 extra points and nine field goals, including the game-winning point in the state title tilt. “

“You still have to pay attention to the details,” Pennock concluded. “We’re not taking anything for granted, but you’re excited for the pieces and potential there. Obviously, adding some new guys and some younger guys coming in and trying to see how that mold fits together is the key part of it. For this 2026 team, we got some pieces offensively that can be super explosive, but I’m super excited about what we have on defense, on the defensive front, in the back end, the overall speed and athleticism across the board of what we got right now. And so, it’s there for the taking. You just got to do it.”