By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

One of the best ways for a sportswriter to make a fool out of himself is to try and predict the weekly outcomes of any type of sporting event, but especially high school football games.

Not that I need any help, but here goes…

Have no fear, Rock’s Locks is here again y’all…

Yes, Rock’s Locks is back in South Mississippi for yet another prep football season. Rock’s Locks was a steady feature in several daily newspapers (remember those?) across South Mississippi for much of the past three decades and has been a part of the journalistic fabric of prep football across the “Southern Six” for most of that time frame as well. Each week we will attempt to provide some insight with some prep pigskin prognosticator picks and provide you readers with much material to ridicule me with I am sure.

There has been a lot of talk about Rock’s Locks over the years. But I didn’t care what was said, I decided to try and sometimes make a fool out of myself again this year.

Last week, Rock’s Locks turned in a nifty 11-2 worksheet.

In the words of Mac McAnally…”Now I’ve been lazy most all my life writing songs and sleeping late…”

1. D’Iberville at Gulfport (Game of the Week) — This one will decide the Region 4-7A championship. Gulfport is taking aim on its second straight title for the first time in seven years, and comes in just behind DHS in region race with a perfect 4-0 mark, while the Warriors are 5-0. Even though this all-time series dates back 38 years to 1988, this is just the 18th meeting on the football field between the two teams. Gulfport has a commanding 12-6 lead, and the Admirals have won four straight and seven out of the last nine games over DHS. D’Iberville is looking for its first region title in six years. Gulfport 28, D’Iberville 24.
2. Hancock at Pascagoula — While this might not be a battle for the Region 4-6A crown, this is still a key contest in the chase for a state playoff berth in the league standings as the Panthers host the Hawks at War Memorial Stadium. Hancock comes in at 2-1 in the region race, with PHS a step behind at 1-2 . These two teams never met on the football field until 21 years ago in 2005, and since then the Panthers own a 10-3 advantage in 13 meetings over the past two decades including wins in the past five seasons over HHS. The Hawks can take a big step towards securing the second seed and the home-field advantage in the opening round of the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs as well with a win over the Panthers. Hancock 23, Pascagoula 21.
3. Gautier at Picayune — The Maroon Tide is a perfect 3-0 in Region 4-6A and on course to take their sixth straight league title as the Gators come calling to Lee-Triplett Stadium Friday night. Also, Picayuane is 16-0 all-time against Gautier. If the Gators are gonna snap that win-less streak, there’s no better time to do so than this week as Gautier is on the verge of falling out of state playoff contention at 1-2 in league play after two losses by a combined total of nine points over the last three weeks. A win by Picayune would clinch that sixth straight region title. Picayune 42, Gautier 24.
4. Columbia at Poplarville — For the second straight season, the Hornets will battle the Wildcats for the Region 7-4A title Friday night. Last season, en route to an unbeaten 15-0 march to the Class 4A state championship, Columbia thumped visiting PHS 20-14. The two teams then faced off again four weeks later, also in Columbia, and the Wildcats won the Class 4A South State crown, slipping past the Hornets 20-14. This marks the 17th all-time meeting, and thanks in large part to last year, CHS leads the all-time series 10-6. The Wildcats have also won three out of tghe past four meetings. Poplarville 31, Columbia 17.
5. Biloxi at West Harrison — Just the fourth meeting all time between these two teams on the football field is set for Friday night in what could turn into a very important Region 4-7A battle. Currently, the Hurricanes sit solidly as the fourth seed in the region race, which of course is the cut off line for qualifying for the state playoffs. A win by West Harrison would possibly secure the first-ever playoff berth in program history for the Hurricanes. The Indians need a win this week as well some help in order to not miss the postseason for the first time since 2021. West Harrison 27, Biloxi 22.
6. Vancleave at East Central — A game that will be talked about in duck blinds and deer stands all across Jackson County for the next year goes down in Hurley on Halloween eve night as the Hornets host the longtime arch-rival Bulldogs. Both teams are coming off of losses last week. A third straight win forf ECHS over VHS would not only clinch the first state playoff berth for the Hornets in four years but also allow the home team to host an opening round state playoff game for the first time in nine years. East Central comes in at 2-1 in Region 4-5A play, and Vancleave is 0-3. Another Bulldog loss would eliminate VHS from playoff contention. East Central 42, Vancleave 14.
7. Pass Christian at Bay High — These two long-running rivals meet for the 74th time on the football field this week. Both, in all likelihood, are headed to the upcoming Class 4A South State playoffs which kick off next week. Bay leads the all-time series 41-30-2, but Pass has won the last four…Pass Christian 56, Bay High 0.

A Six pack to go:

Greene County 23, Forrest County 12

Ocean Springs 42, Harrison Central 8

Terry 27, George County 21

PRC 28, Long Beach 20

Stone 32, Northeast Jones 13

West Marion 37, St. Stanislaus 16