By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

Fortunately for both Biloxi and George County, each team qualified for the upcoming state prep football playoffs with losing records this season.

Unfortunately, however, for both the Indians and Rebels, they will be facing familiar foes in the opening round that they’d likely rather not see again anytime soon.

George County is coming off of a rousing 47-0 win over visiting Jackson Forrest Hill Thursday night that secured the fourth and final seed in Region 3-6A for playoff purposes. The Rebels got four total touchdowns from quarterback Maddox Dunn in the key win, as he ran for two scores and threw for two more.

Now 4-6 overall on the season, George County heads to perennial state power Picayune Friday night to kick off the Class 6A South State playoffs.

This will mark the fourth trip to Lee-Triplett Stadium in the past two years for GCHS, and Picayune has dominated the Rebels in that span. In fact, the Maroon Tide has won eight straight games against GCHS dating back to 2013.

This will mark the third straight season that these two teams, who used to be region mates, have squared off in the playoffs. Picayune won the last two meetings 55-7 and 63-40.

The Maroon Tide sits at 7-3 this season, and went unbeaten in Region 4-6A play to capture its sixth straight region title.

And if you think the Picayune-George County series is one-sided, look no further than Biloxi and its opening round opponent in the Class 7A South State playoffs this week.

Biloxi dropped a close 34-31 decision to arch-rival D’Iberville last week to wrap up both the regular season and Region 4-7A action. The Indians are 3-7 overall, and qualified for the state playoffs thanks to a three way tiebreaking process.

That gave BHS the fourth seed in the loop, and results in yet another trip to the Hattiesburg area.

This marks the sixth time in the past seven seasons that Biloxi has traveled to Oak Grove to open the postseason. The Indians have lost all seven previous meetings to the Warriors, including the past five consecutive seasons to kick off the state playoffs.

The closest contest of the previous seven outings with a 14-point win, 34-20, by Oak Grove two years ago.

The Warriors beat Biloxi 52-20 last year, 55-13 three years ago and 54-34 in 2020. The only regular season meetings between the two teams came in 2012 and 2013, with OGHS winning 49-14 and 59-35, respectively.