By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

PASCAGOULA — A new era of Pascagoula football kicks off Friday night.

Both on the field and in the press box.

As new Panther head coach Zach Green and his squad take on arch-rival Moss Point in the 86th annual “Battle of the Cats” here at War Memorial Stadium, the longtime “Voice of the Panthers” won’t be behind the microphone in the radio booth.

After almost 30 years, including the past 15 seasons with veteran PHS mentor Lewis Sims on the sidelines, Panther play-by-play man Bill Glenn won’t be on the call. Since last season ended, Glenn took a new job in Virginia and has moved on.

He served in his position with PHS radio since 1998, and that included covering six separate Panther head coaches and thousands of players.

“I’m definitely going to miss doing the Pascagoula games,” Glenn said this week. “For me, it was always about the kids. I was fortunate enough to announce Pascagoula football for so long that I watched some of those kids grow up and eventually call their sons’ games. That’s what made it special and i loved being a small part of the Panther family. The one thing that never changed was the love this community has for its kids and sports. Nothing says Pascagoula quite like a Friday night on Dutch Binion Field at War Memorial Stadium. Those nights, the players, the coaches and people listening made it all a wonderful experience. Go Goula!”

Glenn shared the booth with his longtime color commentary partner Tommy Dorsey for quite a while, as well as six other cohorts over those years. He also broadcast the games on several different stations through the years.

“BILL was the voice of the Panthers!’ Sims said. “He loved following the Panthers and getting to know all the players and coaches. His passion for all things “Goula” is second to none. He traveled all over the state and never missed a chance to support his hometown team.”

It was a long, strange trip for the past three decades for Glenn, whose musical and movie references will be missed by many.

King of the Hill

No one can blame Ocean Springs head coach Jake Bramlett is he never wants to see any member of the Meridian Hill family on the gridiron ever again.

Thursday night, Meridian tailback Grant Hill ran for five touchdowns and 167 yards as his Wildcats ran roughshod over the home-standing Greyhounds 47-9 in the season-opener for both teams.

Hill is the younger brother of former MHS all-State standout Daniel Hill, currently a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

Thursday’s outstanding performance came just three years after Daniel Hill led Meridian into Greyhound Stadium to open the Class 6A South State playoffs and ran for 154 yards and three touchdowns as the Wildcats stunned OSHS 35-23 to end Bramlett’s first season at the helm of the Greyhounds.

So, that makes eight scoring runs and over 300 yards rushing for the Hill gang in Greyhound territory in the past several seasons.

No mas.