Gulfport, South Panola Clash On Saturday

Just as the Gulf Coast was experiencing beautiful fall weather after being pounded over Labor Day weekend by Tropical Storm Lee, another force of nature is preparing to strike.  However, this surge is not building up in the Tropics, but rather Batesville.

This will be a special weekend for high school football on the Mississippi Gulf Coast as "The University of South Panola" makes the long trip from Batesville to face the Gulfport Admirals in a rare late Saturday afternoon game at Milner Stadium.  The South Panola Tigers have established themselves as the dominant program in Mississippi High School football only losing three times in their last 123 games, and winning 7 out of the last 8 state championships.  They are also consistently ranked among the top teams in the nation.  This season, however, the Tigers have experienced something that rarely occurs - a loss.  In their second game, the Tigers fell to Alabama powerhouse Hoover during a national  ESPN broadcast.  It was a contest in which South Panola could not ever get their tough, physical rushing attack going against a seemingly smaller, faster Hoover defense.

Gulfport appears to be surging program under coaching legend Mike Justice who faced off against South Panola in many playoff games during his days at Madison Central.  However, the Admirals also encountered an early season hiccup losing to a lean, mean Picayune team 17-14 in their opener.  The Admirals would respond strong the following week demolishing traditional powerhouse Moss Point 43-0.  One of the most interesting battles I see in this game is between 6-2, 260 pound LB/DE Jamison Goins of Gulfport and lightening fast RB Tony Connor of South Panola, who is also a ball hawking Free Safety.  Goins is a tackling maching, leading the Admirals in tackles in 2010 and already has 20 this season according to The Sun Herald.  Connor, who is only a Junior, is Mr. Everything for the Tigers returning kicks and playing some QB in addition to his roles as running back and defensive back.  It is also a safe prediction he will be the state's top recruit for the Class of 2013.  

I realize it may be hard to pull away from college football this Saturday, but this is an excellent opportunity for Mississippi Coast residents to come watch one of the country's most successful high school football programs play, and they may just witness an upset in the process.

Here is the thorough game preview from The Sun Herald:

We’re excited and ready to play,’’ Admiral defensive end Jamison Goins said. “We’ve got to go out and play our hardest. We know their game. They are going to run it at you ‘till you get tired. We have to keep playing. We have to stop their running game. We want them to pass the ball.’’

Read more: http://www.sunherald.com/2011/09/06/3405002/a-mighty-big-game.html#ixzz1XKRIdtKD