By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

GULFPORT — For the second straight season, West Harrison heads into its regular season finale needing only a win to possibly earn its first state playoff berth in program history.

However, it’s not quite as simple this season as it was last year.

Last year, a win on the road at Biloxi was all the Hurricanes needed to accomplish that historical feat. But, while a win Friday over the visiting Indians will push WHHS oh so close to that milestone, head coach Quincy Patrick’s crew will still need a little help.

And, the Hurricanes might be sitting around for another week before it’s all decided.

Here are the current standings in Region 4-7A:

(Region/Overall)

1. Gulfport 4-0, 7-1
2. D’Iberville 4-0, 8-0
3. St. Martin 3-2, 7-2
4. West Harrison 2-3, 4-5
5. Ocean Springs 1-3, 2-6
6. Biloxi 1-3, 2-6
7. Harrison Central 0-4, 1-7

A West Harrison win over Biloxi Friday night would move the Hurricanes to 3-3 league play, and into the all-important fourth slot in Region 4-7A play.

And, a win by West Harrison Friday night combined with a loss by Ocean Springs to Harrison Central would indeed clinch that elusive first state playoff berth for Patrick’s crew.

But, a Greyhound win over the last place Red Rebels will keep the season alive for at least one more week for OSHS, and set up a huge region game against St. Martin next week to decide the final playoff participant in the league.

A win by both OSHS and WHHS this week sets up this scenario:

(Remember, West Harrison is off next week. West Harrison lost to SMHS by 17 points (45-28) and beat OSHS by 11 28-17. So the Hurricanes are already set at minus 1 in the 12-point tie-breaking process.)

In this scenario, everything comes down to the OSHS at SMHS game next Thursday (Nov. 5th).

Ocean Springs has to beat St. Martin by at least 11 points. A 21-10 (or similar) win for the Greyhounds and the Yellow Jackets are the third seed and OSHS is the fourth seed and WHHS misses the playoffs again.

IF OSHS beats St. Martin by 12 or more points, then the Greyhounds are the third seed and the Yellow Jackets are the fourth seed.

If OSHS wins by 10 or less points, then West Harrison is the fourth seed and SMHS is the third seed

A win by St. Martin by any margin eliminates OSHS from playoff contention.

Also, if Biloxi finishes the regular season out with wins over West Harrison and D’Iberville, then the Indians would also have some slight possible playoff possibilities as well. But a loss this week eliminates BHS.