By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — For the second straight season, the Gulfport-Picayune showdown is this week’s “Smith Group Realty Homefield Advantage” Game of the Week for SouthMiss6 Sports.

Each week during the prep football season, SouthMiss6 Sports will feature a “GOTW” sponsored by The Smith Group Realty, your “Homefield Advantage” for buying and selling real estate in South Mississippi..

The defending Class 7A state champion Admirals travels to Lee-Triplett Stadium Friday night to face the perennial state power Maroon Tide in the season-opener for both teams.

Picayune and Gulfport meet for the 12th consecutive season and for the 12th time since the beginning of the 2011 season, in which the Maroon Tide went on to win the state championship and then capture three more over the next 11 years.

Last season, the Maroon Tide handed GHS one of its two losses in that historic campaign for the Admirals, slipping past home-standing Gulfport 31-28 in exciting fashion. Picayune has won six-of-the-last seven meetings in this now annual series, but Gulfport headed up to Pearl River County and thumped the Maroon Tide 41-21 just two years ago in the last meeting at Lee-Triplett.

Picayune, which captured back-to-back Class 5A state titles in 2021 and 2022, is aiming for its sixth straight trip to the South State finals. Included in that stretch is five straight region crowns the Maroon Tide has won at least 10 games a year in that span as well under head coach Cody Stogner.

Also, another constant for the Maroon Tide is a dominant rushing attack. And, as Stogner, a former Maroon Tide lineman, enters his seventh season at the helm of his alma mater, that hasn’t changed one bit either.

“It helps out when you return almost all of your yardage in the backfield,” Stogner said, in a recent interview. “Especially as young as we are going to be up front. We are returning two starters on the offensive line. We have got some young guys and some guys who are just green, you know, it will be their first time playing, so having that experience and leadership back there goes a long way.

But it’s also good to have those guys behind them carrying the ball.”

Stogner was speaking specifically of his standout senior tailback Xavier Dennis, along with his understudy Jamari Hathorne.

The latest in a long line of successful and productive Maroon Tide tailbacks, Dennis produced 275 carries for 2,840 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns, averaging 218 rushing yards per game, last season as a junior.mThe versatile and speedy 5-foot-9, 155-pound stalwart was a major reason why Picayune went 10-3 and fell in the Class 6A South State championship game to Hattiesburg for the second straight season.

He was named First Team Class 6A All-State for his work last season.

However, the toughest defense the Picayune running attack may face all season might just indeed come this week.

Gulfport brings a program record 11 game win streak into the new season, as well as one of the mosted talented defensive units in the state.

Cortell Crandle and Deandre Williams return at linebacker for the Admirals. 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,” GHS head coach Blake Pennock said.. “I thought that was a separator for us last year.

“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.”

 This game is one of the top non-region showdowns in the state in the opening week of play

Led by a team passionate about providing clients with a positive, personalized real estate experience, The Smith Group Realty brings years of knowledge, experience, and dedication to helping families and individuals find their perfect home

“At the Smith Realty group, we believe buying or selling a house should be a positive, personal experience. With knowledge, compassion and dedication, we’re here to guide you ever step of the way, helping you to feel right at home every step of the way.

You always have the Homefield Advantage with The Smith Realty Group!”