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 Jerry Jeff Walker…”I knew a man Bojangles. and he’d dance for you…”

1. Ocean Springs at St. Martin (Game of the Week) — One of the most important games between these two neighborhood rivals in quite some time takes place Thursday night in a key Region 4-7A contest for two berths in the upcoming Class 7A South State playoffs while the other is still looking for a path to do so as well. The Greyhounds have qualified for a berth in the postseason for the past eight seasons, but need a win and some help to extend that streak to nine. St. Martin is looking to qualify for the state playoffs for the first time in eight years as well. This marks the 62nd all-time meeting between the two teams on the football field, and OSHS has completely dominated the series at 50-11. The Greyhounds have won eight straight in the series, and 19 out of the last 20. But not tonight…St. Martin 31, Ocean Springs 17.
2. Pascagoula at Gautier — The renewal of the “Singing River Classic” sees the Panthers head west down U.S. Highway 90 a bit to take on the Gators at Vaughan-Wallace Stadium Thursday night in the regular season finale for both teams. Pascagoula leads this all-time series 14-10, after thumping Gautier 49-12 at home last season. 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. Gautier 24, Pascagoula 14.
3. D’Iberville at Biloxi — For the fourth straight season, these two neighboring rivals end the regular season against one another on a Thursday night, and for the third consecutive season the contest carries with it playoff implications in Region 4-7A. The Warriors have already clinched a berth in the upcoming Class 7A South State playoffs, and even though the Indians are in a much better position to still be playing next week than they were last week, they still need some things to go just right this week to clinch another postseason berth. The two teams have split the past 10 meetings. D’Iberville 35, Biloxi 21.
4. Picayune at PRC — The longtime and neighboring rivals face off Thursday night in Carriere as this long time rivalry is renewed to end the regular season for the second straight season. The Maroon Tide leads the all-time series 27-7, but PRC snapped Picayune’s eight game win streak in the series last year with a stunning 28-21 upset on the road. That win stopped a 28-game region win streak for the Maroon Tide as well. Once again, Picayune is the top seed from Region 4-6A having just won their sixth straight league title. PRC has also already clinched a state playoff berth as well for the second straight season after breaking a 10-year absence last year. Picayune 28, PRC 21.
5. Stone at East Central — This is a battle for the second seed in Region 4-5A and homefield advantage in the opening round of the Class 5A South State playoffs next week. A win for the Hornets clinches both of those goals for ECHS. This is the 36th all-time meeting between the two teams that dates all the way back to 1959, and Stone leads the affair by a wide margin 25-10. East Central 27, Stone 13.
6. Forest at Pass Christian — An historic regular season for the Pirates results in them hosting this opening round game in the Class 4A South State playoffs Friday night in what has become the friendly confines of Buddy McDonald Stadium. Pass is in the postseason for the fourth straight season under the direction of head coach Jeff Stockstill, and the perfect 10-0 Pirates are a perfect 5-0 at home this season as well as 12-0 over the past two seasons. This is the first meeting ever between these two teams on the football field. Forest is 5-4 overall, and the fourth seed from Region 6-4A. Pass 42, Forest 14.
7. Northeast Lauderdale at Poplarville — The Region 4-7A champion, Hornets host Northeast Lauderdale, also in this opening round game in the Class 4A South State playoffs Friday night. It’s just the third meeting ever between the two teams, and the first since 2018. Poplarville won the first two outings, so…Poplarville 50, NEL 6.

A Six pack to go:

Gulfport 56, Harrison Central 3

Hancock 42, Long Beach 31

Purvis 3, Vancleave 2

George County 12, Jackson Forrest Hill 10

Magee 27, St. Stanislaus 16

Mendenhall 42, Bay High 3