PASCAGOULA, Miss. (WLOX) – It’s good, old-fashioned hate for the 2025 regular season’s final Game of the Week.
On Thursday, the Gautier Gators take a stroll down the road to visit the #8 Pascagoula Panthers in the Singing River Classic. Last year’s state runner-ups are down to 1-3 in the district, but may have been only a few plays from the top.
“I think last year on the road to the state championship, we won 7 games in the final drive,” explained Gautier Head Coach Marcus High. “This year, we’ve lost 5 in the final drive. It’s just one of those years. The kids kept playing hard, and I’m always proud of that.”
“I’ll tell you what, Gautier is a fine football team,” said Pascagoula Head Coach Lewis Sims. “They’re about three plays from being 3-1 as well. They’re a really good football team. They played for a state championship last year, and Coach High and those guys are really good coaches. They put their players in positions to be successful. ”
Pascagoula, on the other hand, has secured a home playoff game against Terry and enters the clash with momentum after lighting it up their last three games, scoring at least 35 each contest and landing two shutout wins over Hancock and PRC.
“We’re just getting started,” added Coach Sims. “Our kids knew that what we did in the pre-region schedule was going to prepare us coming into the region. We know that it’s a gauntlet out there, but the more you play good competition early? I learned that from my mentor, Coach Jerry Alexander — always play good people early, and it makes you play better later in the year.”
This one isn’t just a game. It’s a battle over territory with both teams looking to conquer.
“You know, it’s a really great rivalry,” described Coach Sims. “It’s reminiscent of the old Pascagoula-Moss Point rivalry between us, and that river really divides us, but it also brings us together. We want people to understand that they’re our brothers after the game, but for 48 minutes in the game, we’re going to fight each other as hard as we can.”
“When you talk about the Classic, it’s always a big game,” said Coach High. “Both communities put a lot into it. We’ve even seen a couple of commercials about Gautier High School, so it’s always fun. We’re looking forward to a good game.”
It’s brother versus brother, and the winner gets the ultimate prize — bragging rights.
Kickoff between the Panthers and the Gators is slated for 7 p.m. Thursday at War Memorial Stadium in Pascagoula.
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