SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

August 29, 2026

Prep Football: St. Martin hammers visiting Vancleave

St. Martin quarterback Dawsen Sullivan hands off to Yellow Jacket running back Seth Crockett vs. Vancleave Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

By TK Edwards/Contributing writer

St. MARTIN — The promise of a new season greeted both visiting Vancleave and home-standing St Martin at Joe Barlow Stadium in Ocean Springs on Friday for the regular-season opener for both teams.

But, for the second straight season, it was the Yellow Jackets that got off to a successful start.

St. Martin demolished Vancleave 56-14. This came on the heels of a 64-21 road win for the Yellow Jackets last year over the Bulldogs.

St. Martin running back Seth Crockett avoids Vancleave defender — Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin running back Charles Summers breaks into open space vs. Vancleave Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Vancleave quarterback Reese Thomason turns to hand off to Bulldog back Anthony Buxton vs. St. Martin Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

It was more of the same this year. A minute into action, Yellow Jacket running back Charles Summers Jr hauled in a 28-yard swing pass for the game’s first touchdown. Warren Jalanavich’s PAT was good for a quick 7-0 lead. After a stalled Vancleave opening possession, St Martin quarterback Dawsen Sullivan would race 55 yards to
the end zone for a quick 14-0 lead.

Vancleave would force a fumble, recovered by Chris Toothman, on the first play of the Jackets’ third drive at the Vancleave 30. Facing a third down at midfield, Jackets linebacker Aaden Jackson would jump the Vancleave route and return the pick 49 yards for the touchdown to give St Martin a 21-0 lead.

St. Martin quarterback Dawsen Sullivan grabs a snap vs. Vancleave Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Vancleave quarterback Reese Thomason sneaks through the St. Martin defense Friday night as Yellow Jacket linebacker Kevin Reeder closes in. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin running back Seth Crockett breaks through a hole vs. Vancleave Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Vancleave settled into the next drive as QB Reece Thomason would plow forward from 3 yards out at the goal line to cut the SMHS lead to 21-7 after Joseph Castro’s PAT with 00:58 to go in the first quarter.

Later in the second, Jackets running back Seth Crockett added TD rushes from 16 and 29 yards.

Then, St Martin’s Prince Drummond grabbed a tip drill interception that led to the 29-yard Crockett scoring rush.

Dawsen Sullivan also added an 11-yard first-half touchdown run.

Vancleave found the end zone on a 20-yard scoring pass from Reece Thomason to wide out Brayden Haarala to cut the St Martin lead to 42-14 with 04:04 to go before the half.

St. Martin’s Danarius Shelby looks for some working room vs. Vancleave Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Vancleave defenders Jaidon Taylor (87) and Layne Danner (12) pursue St. Martin running back Seth Crockett Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St. Martin head coach Woody Cagnolatti calls signals vs. Vancleave Friday night. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

St Martin runner Charles Summers would rush for a 50-yard touchdown to end the first-half scoring for the Jackets offense at 49-14.
The game’s scoring would end on a 30-yard scoring run by Dawsen Sullivan with 3:44 to go in the third quarter. A running clock was in place for the entire second half.
Next week Vancleave will be home versus Richland while St Martin will host East Central.