SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

Prep Football: Gulfport continues dominance over St. Martin

A football player in a white jersey with orange accents avoids a tackle from a defender in a blue jersey. The scene captures the action during a night game on a football field.
Gulfport’s Jaylen Johnson works toward the edge as St. Martin defender Robert Dossett reaches out to stop him Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

ST. MARTIN — For the sixth time in the past decade, St. Martin prepared for Gulfport early in region play with designs on perhaps winning its first-ever league title.

Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, however, Thursday night’s latest encounter turned out no better than the previous five did.

In fact, this one was the worst of all for St. Martin.

A high school football player in a white jersey with blue and orange trim is preparing to throw a football during a nighttime game. The player is focused and wearing a helmet with a faceguard, while spectators are visible in the background.
Gulfport quarterback Jackson Wolverton takes a snap vs. St. Martin Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
A football player in a blue jersey with the number 16 attempts to tackle another player in a white jersey with the number 21. The white player is in motion, evading the tackle. The background features blurred spectators and football field markings.
Gulfport wide out Mylan Stubbs pulls down a catch as St. Martin defender Kaimani Books pulls in Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
A football player in orange and white uniform attempts a catch during a game under nighttime lights.
Gulfport’s Syniker Taylor, Jr., pulls in a touchdown catch vs. St. Martin Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

The Admirals completely dismantled the previously unbeaten and home-standing Yellow Jackets 42-14 here at Joe Barlow Stadium in Region 4-7A play.

The win pushed the defending Class 7A state champs to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the region race, as the Admirals of head coach Blake Pennock look to defend the league title as well this season. St.Martin, which started a season off at 6-0 for the first time in program history, drops its first game of the year and falls to 2-1 in the region race.

“I was proud of our guys all week for not getting caught up in the back-and-forth on social media,” Pennock said. “I think it got their attention. Our players take a lot of pride in the way they prepare and play. We always try to find an edge some way and that was an easy one once that got started.”

A football player in an orange uniform catches a pass while being defended by a player in a blue uniform during a night game.
Gulfport’ wide out Javious Hales hauls in a scoring pass as St. Martin defender Grant Chatham reaches out to stop him Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
A football player in a white jersey catches the ball while being challenged by an opponent in a blue jersey during a night game.
Gulfport’ wide out Javious Hales hauls in a scoring pass as St. Martin defender Grant Chatham reaches out to stop him Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
Two football players collide on the field, one wearing an orange helmet and the other in a white and blue uniform, as they struggle for possession of the ball.
Gulfport’s Jaylen Johnson slams into St. Martin defender Grant Chatham Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

The visiting Admirals jumped out to a commanding 42-7 lead at halftime and never looked back in totally dominating the home team in every facet.   Gulfport scored a touchdown on their first five possessions in the first half, and then after missing a field goal late in the second quarter the GHS defense got in on the action with a score of their own.

Admiral quarterback Jackson Wolverton threw for three first half touchdowns, two to Javious Hales, and Gulfport running back Jo Jo Thomas ran for two more scores in that same time span.

“We focused on our preparation all week and let our execution take over,” Pennock added. “I thought we had a great plan to come out and start fast and take the crowd out of the game. Credit to our players for executing at a high level and jumping out to a fast start”

A football player in an orange and blue uniform catches a pass while being closely pursued by an opponent in a blue and white uniform. The scene is set on a football field at night.
Gulfport’s Javious Hales holds on to the catch as St. Martin defender Grant Chatham closes in Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
A football player in a blue and yellow jersey is being tackled by an opposing player in an orange and blue uniform, while other players are on the ground in the background.
Gulfport defender Deandre Williams takes down St. Martin quarterback Dawsen Sullivan Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
Two football players in action during a night game, one wearing a white jersey with orange accents and the other in a blue jersey. The player in white is holding the ball while being pursued by the opponent.
Gulfport tight end Travor Frost looks for some operating room as St. Martin defender Aaden Jackson reaches out to stop him Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Wolverton got the barrage rolling with a 29-yard scoring strike to wide out Syniker Taylor, Jr., less than three minutes into the game to give the visitors a 7-0 lead it would never come close to relinquishing.

Wolverton followed that up with a 14-yard touchdown toss to Hales to make it 14-0 almost six minutes later.

Thomas dashed 1-yard two plays into the second stanza to make it 21-0. Then, his 3-yard touchdown run at the 4:17 mark made it 35-0.

Sandwiched in between that was a 42-yard scoring pass from Wolverton to Hales.

To end the impressive opening half, Gulfport linebacker Victor Labega scooped up a SMHS fumble and ran it 8-yards for a touchdown to make it 42-0.

A football player in a blue and yellow uniform is being tackled by an opponent in a white and orange uniform on the field during a night game.
Gulfport defender Travor Frost pursues St. Martin quarterback Dawsen Sullivan Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
A football player in a white and orange uniform is leaping to catch a football during a night game, while teammates watch in the background.
Gulfport wide out Cam Morgan stretches out for the catch vs. St. Martin Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
A football player in a blue jersey is being tackled by two defenders in orange jerseys during a night game on a grass field.
Gulfport defenders Cordarious Payton (6) and Vic Labega (3) team up to take down St. Martin wide out Dawsey Sullivan as Admiral Cannon Parker (0) closes in Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

St. Martin scored on the final play of the second period on a 14-yard pass from Dawsen Sulllivan to Dawsey Sullivan to end the on-slaught.

The running clock started with the second hall kickoff.

Wolverton finished the night 15-of-21 fof 248 yards and the three touchdowns.

The win continued Gulfport’s dominance in the all-time series, as it marked the 16th straight win in actual games played for the Admirals over SMHS.

A football player in a blue jersey with yellow stripes and white pants runs with the ball, wearing pink gloves, while being pursued by a player in a white jersey with orange pants.
St. Martin running back Charles Summers looks for some operating room as Gulfport defender Nick Strickland pursues the play Thursday night. (Photo by Steve Coleman)
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