Regional football arrives in full on the Mississippi Coast. Here are our predictions

Regional football will be in full swing this week.

The upper classification schools join the lower half in beginning district games, meaning the real season is finally and completely upon us.

The Mississippi Coast is home to some of the most competitive regions across the south side of the state and many will begin shaping out as soon as this Friday.

Here’s a quick breakdown of each region, including our picks to emerge as district champions.

Region 4-7A

The district held firmly by the Greyhounds for the last three years may finally be in limbo. Ocean Springs limps into regional play with a 1-4 record — its worst start since 2002 — after facing a brutal gauntlet that featured losses to Picayune, Madison Central and Oak Grove.

Ocean Springs has found its groove offensively as of late and is loaded with weapons on that side of the ball, but the fate of a four-peat will rest in the hands of a defense that has struggled to string together enough stops.

The Greyhounds’ primary challenger will be their rivals down I-10. Gulfport (3-2) demolished Picayune, but also has a loss to Madison Central and was listless in a 42-0 loss to Brandon. The Admirals have showcased the ability to be multi-dimensional on offense , which could be the catalyst in a changing of the guard in this region.

D’Iberville (3-2) lurks underneath the surface with a vastly improved defense and a rushing attack that has produced over 1,300 yards at the halfway point. The Warriors get a chance to make a statement early with games against Ocean Springs and Gulfport to open their region schedule.

The last playoff spot will be contentious with Biloxi (2-3), Harrison Central (1-4) and St. Martin (3-2) showing little signs of separation.

Sun Herald’s pick: Gulfport

Dark horse: D’Iberville

Region 4-6A

Few regions in the state face a tougher road than this one. Picayune (4-2) has won three consecutive district championships and will have to fend off multiple potential usurpers. The Maroon Tide enter the important part of the year having just rattled off a pair of huge road wins at Ocean Springs and Petal and have the state’s leading rusher in Darrell Smith forging the way.

Picayune is directly in the cross hairs of Pascagoula, however. The Silas Corder-led Panthers are 4-1 and have the Coast’s top scoring defense to compliment their explosive offense. Pascagoula and Picayune will settle their difference quickly, facing each other this Friday in one of the biggest games of the Coast’s season.

Also in the running is George County (3-3), but plenty hinges on the availability of its five star quarterback. Deuce Knight hasn’t played since an injury sustained in week three. The Rebels are losers of three of their last four and saw their offensive production decline sharply in Knight’s absence.

Sneaking up on everyone else is a West Harrison (4-1) team hungry for its first playoff trip in school history. The Hurricanes’ 39.6 points per game tops the Coast and have allowed just 10.75 points a game during their current four-game win streak.

They’ll need wins against Hancock (1-5) and Long Beach (2-4) to secure the postseason game.

Sun Herald’s pick: Picayune

Dark horse: Pascagoula

Region 4-5A

This region was decided on the final week a year ago in a battle between Gautier and Laurel that the latter won. The Golden Tornadoes are off to a 1-5 start, albeit against a tough schedule, leaving the door open for the Gators to finally nab a district title that has eluded the program since 2008.

Trey Irving and the Gator offense have scored 38-plus in three straight games and developed a penchant for winning close contests. Gautier (4-1) has two overtime wins already and is coming off a thrilling 42-41 win over Columbia that was decided on the final play.

Vancleave (3-2) has reeled off three impressive wins in a row, while Stone (2-3) is starting to find a rhythm offensively to back up what has been the No. 2 scoring defense on the Coast.

Gautier opens the schedule with Vancleave this Friday and finishes with Stone and Laurel in back-to-back weeks. All three games will heavily impact how this field shapes out.

Sun Herald’s pick: Gautier

Dark horse: Stone

Region 8-4A

The Poplarville Football Machine (5-1, 1-0) hasn’t shown much signs of slowing down, but its direct competitors will have a say in that in the coming weeks. The Hornets’ only loss so far is a 10-7 defeat against reigning 6A state champs West Jones and opened region play with a 28-14 win over Moss Point.

It’s biggest challenger will be a Greene County (5-1, 1-0) team that has already dispatched Pass Christian (3-3, 0-1) and has MHSAA’s passing yards leader in Coby King. The Halloween night season finale between the Hornets and Wildcats will be the de facto championship game in all likelihood.

Pass Christian and its own prolific offense will likely just need to secure a win over Moss Point (0-6, 0-1) to cinch its postseason spot, but an upset of Poplarville will put the Pirates in the driver’s seat of a home playoff game.

The final playoff spot in this five-team region will go to either Bay High (1-5) or Moss Point. The battle of the Tigers will play out this Friday.

Sun Herald’s pick: Greene County

Dark horse: Poplarville (Note: We do acknowledge the Hornets are the least dark-horsiest team imaginable, but there are essentially two options in this region following Greene County’s win over The Pass.)

Region 3-6A/Region 8-3A/Region 8-1A

The Coast has one school in a brutally difficult region that features West Jones (5-1), Hattiesburg (6-0) and Terry (5-1). Pearl River Central (1-4) is making strides under first-year coach John Feaster , but will need to nab a win over the next four games to give itself a playoff ticket for the first time since 2015.

The best chance for the Blue Devils to do that is this week against Forest Hill (1-4).

St. Stanislaus (3-3) and St. Patrick (0-6, 0-1) occupy Region 8-3A, where West Marion (4-2, 1-0) and Perry Central (3-3, 1-0) are the leading contenders to wrest away the Rock-a-Chaws’ reigning championship claim. Nate Encrapera has his work cut out for him as the Irish search for their first non-forfeit MHSAA region win since 2014.

Rounding out the Coast is Resurrection (3-3, 1-0) out of Region 8-1A. The Eagles have been perennial contenders in this region and are the reigning title holders. Sacred Heart (5-1, 0-1) is coming off a 10-win season and could be RCS’s top challenger, but the Crusaders just suffered a stunning loss to East Marion (1-5, 0-1).

Lumberton (4-2, 0-1) has already topped Enterprise-Lincoln (4-2, 0-1) and is another contender for the throne.