SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

November 15, 2026

Prep Football: Mustangs thump Gators 42-12 in Class 6A South State playoffs

Gautier tailback Latrell Pogue looks to work past West Jones defender Luke Everwine Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

By CURTIS ROCKWELL/Sports Director

SOSO — according to veteran West Jones head coach Scott Pierson, his Mustangs enjoyed their best outing so far this season Friday night.

And that wasn’t a good thing for Gautier.

West Jones thumped the visiting Gators 42-12 in the opening round of the Class 6A South State playoffs. The Mustangs jumped out to a quick and commanding 28-0 lead just 14 minutes into the game and never looked back.

Gautier tailback Latrell Pogue stiff arms West Jones defender Ryan Newcomb Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier defender Brandon Crayton chases West Jones quarterback Tootie Lindsay Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier defender grabs West Jones wide out Khylan Sineghal Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

“I think that is probably the best we’ve played all year from start to finish in all three phases,” Pierson told the Laurel Leader-Call. “It was something I’ve been waiting to see them do all season, and to see them do it at such a high level tonight, that is fun. It is fun seeing your kids perform to their full potential.”

Mustangs senior quarterback Tootie Lindsey began the barrage with a 6-yard scoring run to give the home team a lead it would never relinquish. Then, a West Jones interception the ensuing Gators drive set up an 8-yard touchdown jaunt by WJHS running back Braylon Agee made it 14-0 less than four minutes into the game.

The Mustangs also blocked a punt to set up another score and then Lindsay hit Agee on a 22-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter.

Gautier tailback Latrell Pogue breaks free vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier’s Ashuan Tubbs (Left) and Kaleb McCree dive for a loose ball vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier quarterback Keon McNeil makes a throw downfield vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

“We blinked and it was 21-0,” Gautier head coach Marc High said. “They’re a very good football team. And they seem to be playing their best football at just the right time.”

West Jones took its biggest lead of the game at 42-6, on a 40-yard scoring dash by Agee late in the third quarter.

Gautier’s two touchdowns came on a Keon McNeil 48-yard swing pass to tailback Latrell Pogue to make it 28-6, and an 80-yard halfback pass from Tylan Moore to Ashaun Tubbs to complete the scoring in the final frame.

Gautier tailback Latrell Pogue looks to work past West Jones defender Luke Everwine Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier wide out Ashuan Tubbs is pushed out of bounds by West Jones defender Nigel Allen Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier’s Tylan Moore looks to make a pass vs. West Jones Friday night. (Photo by Kevan Lindsay)

Gautier finishes High’s ninth season at 6-5 overall. The Gators started the season off at 4-1 and were 5-2 at one point before dropping three out of their last four games.

“We had our ups and downs this season,” High added. “We made the playoffs, which is always a goal, but we could have maybe gotten a better seed than we did if some things had gone our way.”