SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

November 4, 2026

Prep Football: Gators host Panthers in 25th edition of the “Singing River Classic”

Veteran Gautier head coach Marc High leads his Gators in to the annual “Singing River Classic” this week. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

GAUTIER — Thursday night marks the Silver anniversary of the annual “Singing River Classic” that pits Pascagoula against Gautier on the gridiron.
This year sees the Panthers head west down U.S. Highway 90 a bit to take on the Gators at Vaughan-Wallace Stadium in the regular season finale for both teams, and it also shapes up to be one of the more meaningful games in this series all-time.
This annual affair started in 2002, and Pascagoula leads this all-time series 14-10, after thumping Gautier 49-12 at home last season. This is basically a playoff game, as in all likelihood the winner will secure a berth in the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs while the season is over in quite disappointing fashion for the losing team.

Gautier standout running back Latrell Pogue looks to ring up some solid numbers vs. Pascagoula this week. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

First-year Pascagoula head coach leads his Panthers in to the annual “Singing River Classic” this week. (Photo by Steve Coleman)

Gautier sits at 5-4 overall and PHS is just 3-6, after having lost six out of its last seven games. The Gators have also lost three out of their past four games, and both teams sit at 1-3 in the region race and tied with Long Beach for the all-important fourth and final seed for postseason purposes in the league standings.
Unlike last season, there’s quite a bit of drama involved in this annual affair this year as both the Panthers and Gators are still battling for a berth in the upcoming Class 6A South State playoffs. There are all kinds of scenarios in the works for possible tie-breakers here, but let’s just suffice it to say either team is eliminated with a loss.
Both teams are coming off of losses last week in league play, as Pascagoula fell to Hancock 27-23 at home and Gautier lost to perennial state power Picayune on the road 28-14.

Pascagoula quarterback Jason Glaude looks to ring up some efficient yardage vs. Gautier this week. (Photo by Steve Coleman )

Gautier defensive lineman Malik Ward has continued to come up with key plays for the Gators this season. (Photo by Destiny DeBuysere)

Gautier won the first five meetings between these two teams, but since a 25-7 win in 2006 the series has seriously shifted in favor of Pascagoula which has a 14-5 advantage over the past 20 years. The two teams have met every year since that first outing 24 years ago.

The two teams have split the last four meetings, but after losing 10 in-a-row to Pascagoula from 2010-2019, Gautier has won four out of the last six games.