PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) – It’s good, old style hate for the 2025 common season’s ultimate Sport of the Week.
On Thursday, the Gautier Gators take a stroll down the street to go to the #8 Pascagoula Panthers within the Singing River Traditional. Final yr’s state runner-ups are all the way down to 1-3 within the district, however could have been just a few performs from the highest.
“I feel final yr on the street to the state championship, we received 7 video games within the ultimate drive,” defined Gautier Head Coach Marcus Excessive. “This yr, we’ve misplaced 5 within the ultimate drive. It’s simply a type of years. The children stored taking part in exhausting, and I’m all the time happy with that.”
“I’ll inform you what, Gautier is a fantastic soccer staff,” mentioned Pascagoula Head Coach Lewis Sims. “They’re about three performs from being 3-1 as properly. They’re a very good soccer staff. They performed for a state championship final yr, and Coach Excessive and people guys are actually good coaches. They put their gamers in positions to achieve success. ”
Pascagoula, alternatively, has secured a house playoff recreation towards Terry and enters the conflict with momentum after lighting it up their final three video games, scoring at the least 35 every contest and touchdown two shutout wins over Hancock and PRC.
“We’re simply getting began,” added Coach Sims. “Our children knew that what we did within the pre-region schedule was going to arrange us coming into the area. We all know that it’s a gauntlet on the market, however the extra you play good competitors early? I discovered that from my mentor, Coach Jerry Alexander — all the time play good individuals early, and it makes you play higher later within the yr.”
This one isn’t only a recreation. It’s a battle over territory with each groups trying to conquer.
“You understand, it’s a very nice rivalry,” described Coach Sims. “It’s harking back to the previous Pascagoula-Moss Level rivalry between us, and that river actually divides us, nevertheless it additionally brings us collectively. We wish individuals to grasp that they’re our brothers after the sport, however for 48 minutes within the recreation, we’re going to combat one another as exhausting as we will.”
“If you discuss concerning the Traditional, it’s all the time an enormous recreation,” mentioned Coach Excessive. “Each communities put quite a bit into it. We’ve even seen a few commercials about Gautier Excessive College, so it’s all the time enjoyable. We’re trying ahead to a very good recreation.”
It’s brother versus brother, and the winner will get the last word prize — bragging rights.
Kickoff between the Panthers and the Gators is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at Battle Memorial Stadium in Pascagoula.
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