By Stan Caldwell/Sports Writer

PICAYUNE — Two teams that expect to be playing well into November collided in a big-time showdown to open the 2026 high school football season, and it was visiting Gulfport that came away victorious.

The Admirals opened defense of their Class 7A state championship from last season in smashing fashion Friday night, racing past Picayune 35-0 at Lee-Triplett Stadium.

It was an historic whitewash for GHS, as it marked the first time the Maroon Tide was shutout at home in 32 years, since a 55-0 loss to Moss Point. And, the win extended Gulfport’s program record win streak to 12 straight game as well.

Gulfport weathered the storm in the first half, and dominated the second half, scoring touchdowns on four of six possessions after halftime.

“Absolutely, 1-0, that’s the biggest thing,” said Admiral head coach Blake Pennock. “That’s the mantra for us – whatever it takes.

“Offensively, in the first half it took us a minute. It showed that we didn’t play a jamboree last week, and we were a little sloppy. Defense, we were dominant all night. They allowed us to stay in the game until the offense started clicking. Then we were good to go.”

Gulfport was opportunistic on defense, recovering three Maroon Tide fumbles and picking off a pass in the fourth quarter, after the Admirals had smothered Picayune’s vaunted running game.

Maroon Tide senior Xavier Dennis, who ran for more that 2,800 yards last season, was held to just 87 rushing yards on 20 carries, most of that coming in the first half. In all, Picayune had just 131 yards of offense.

“Our defensive line is nothing but animals,” said sophomore nose tackle Jordyn Fernandez. “We just pursue and create havoc everywhere.”

The closest Picayune came to scoring came on the opening kickoff of the game, which sophomore Kendall Jett returned for an apparent 97-yard touchdown.

However, the Gulfport pursuit knocked the ball loose inside the Admiral 5-yard line, and the ball was recovered by sophomore Jeremiah Smith in the end zone for a touchback. The play would have been called back for a holding call anyway, but the Tide were denied even that on the fumble.

After holding the Admirals to a three-and-out, Picayune gave the ball right back on a fumble, but Gulfport was unable to take advantage of the miscue.

However, the Admirals started to figure it out on offense on their third possession, starting at their own 8-yard line.

Sophomore Jackson Wolverton, making his first career start at quarterback, got Gulfport out of its own end of the field with a 25-yard pass to senior Javious Hales, then on a 14-ard pass to senior Camden Morgan to the Tide 32.

Senior tailback Joseph Thomas had runs of 5 and 22 yards to the Picayune 5, and Wolverton took a keeper off left guard for the touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

“Definitely, I was a little nervous, but I knew the guys had my back,” said Wolverton. Really, after the first two plays, it was like I was meant to be out there. I was ready to play.”

Wolverton completed 14 of 19 passes for 171 yards.

“I was proud of him,” said Pennock. “I thought he did a great job in the first half too. We weren’t playing very well at wide receiver, and once we made some adjustments there, we did a good job of getting some guys ready to go. I thought he made good decisions all night.”

The play of the game came late in the second quarter, after Picayune drove from its own 34 on a time-consuming march that used 16 plays to eat up 9 minutes, 32 seconds off the clock.

The Maroon Tide converted three fourth downs on the drive, but the fourth time they went for it, a fourth-and-2 from the Gulfport 20, the Admirals stuffed it.

“That’s kind of the Picayune way,” Pennock said. “They kind of close the first half strong. We saw what was about to happen there, so to have that stop was huge. It’s a game of inches, and we needed every one of them.”

Gulfport took command of the line of scrimmage with authority in the second half, as the Admiral offensive line opened gaping holes in the Maroon Tide defense.

“We thought we had some stuff offensively that we could use to get on the edge,” said Pennock. “Credit to our guys. Once we started getting away from the holding calls out there, we started facing up, made some adjustments and had it going the whole night.”

Indeed, Gulfport got effective work on the ground from senior tailbacks Joseph Thomas and Amijai Frederick, especially in the second half. Thomas finished with 66 yards on 11 carries, and Frederick had 57 yards on 10 runs and scored three second-half touchdowns.

And the Admirals flipped the time of possession in the second half. After Picayune had the ball 14:06 in the first half, Gulfport had it for 13:13 in the second.

“It’s just being able to get us another gear,” said Pennock. “It’s a true thunder and lightning with a Amijai and Jo Jo, and it was the perfect change of pace when we needed a spark right there.

“Jo Jo did a great job of getting us going. I’d like him to take care of the ball a little better, but that’s something we can correct.”

Wolverton opened the second half with a pair of completions to Hales for 11 and 26 yards to the Tide 10 yard-line, then Thomas got the score on a 10-yard run.

A fumble on the kickoff gave the ball right back to Gulfport at the Picayune 31, and Wolverton immediately found Morgan for a 26-yard pickup to the 6 yard-line. Frederick got the touchdown on a 2-yard run on fourth down.

“Our offensive line did great,” said Wolverton. “I was protected the whole game. I think I had one ball that got knocked down, but other than that I was good.”

The two teams traded fourth-down stops, but an interception on the first pay of the fourth quarter game the Admirals the ball at the Picayune 33. On the next play, Hales converted a halfback pass for a touchdown strike to sophomore Syniker Taylor.

Frederick scored his third touchdown of the night on a 9-yard run, capping a five-play, 42-yard drive after another fourth-down stop.

“We know we have a target on our backs, and we practice that way every week,” said Wolverton. “We take whatever is coming for us. The first half, we were a little jittery, and we had to knock the dust off a little bit. The second half, we showed what we can do.”

The Admirals have an open date next week before hosting Laurel on September 11. Picayune is back home next week to take on MAIS powerhouse Jackson Academy.