MS Coast high school football: Week 3 predictions from the Sun Herald staff

Each week, three members of the Sun Herald staff will pick the winners of the five biggest high school football games in South Mississippi. And this Friday feels like a trap week. Week 3 is full of games that feel like foregone conclusions, which often means a surprise is in store for somebody. These are the five biggest games on the Coast and our picks to win each. It had been more than 50 years the last time Picayune lost consecutive games by more than 30 points, but facing the reigning 7A champs, followed by MAIS power Jackson Academy can have that effect. The Maroon Tide have the opportunity to rebound against a Biloxi team that is coming off a loss to Pascagoula. It will be a test for both sides in a rematch of last year's 23-14 Picayune win, its third straight in the series. The Indians have struggled to finish drives across their pair of games. Biloxi needed five field goals in the win against Holmes County Central and scored on just one of its five trips to enemy territory against the Panthers. The lone matchup of the week that feels like it could go either way, the Gators are out to avenge what was a 30-point loss to the Hurricanes a year ago. Fans in attendance will be treated to two diametrically opposed offenses. West Harrison's ground attack produced two 100-yard rushers in last week's win against Forrest. Gautier, on the hand, merely mixes the run into its air raid approach. The Gators are facing stiff non-region tests, having just come off a loss to D'Iberville. The Greyhounds looked better offensively in week two, but only just in time to face their toughest challenge to date: the Pascagoula defense. The Panthers have allowed just six offensive points through two games, and it took eight quarters of football for someone to find the end zone against Zach Green's defense. Conversely, Ocean Springs has allowed 90 points in just two games. For a Pascagoula offense that sputtered at times against Biloxi, this is an opportunity to grease the wheels some. A rematch of last year's 114-point affair featuring a record-setting performance from Hornets running back Ty Keys may not be as dramatic or record-breaking this time around. Poplarville is a team on a mission in 2026. The Hornets turned last season's loss to West Harrison into a blowout win in week one and what followed was a 42-0 shutout of Stone. The Tomcats are the common opponent and Stone put 50 on Hancock in week one. Hancock got on the board last week with a tight win over Harrison Central, but had to overcome a number of turnovers to escape. The Yellow Jackets are continuing their annual three-game run through Region 4-5A by hosting the Tomcats. St. Martin won the meeting last year, 21-3. Dawsen Sullivan has taken over full time at quarterback for St. Martin and the sailing has been smooth, so far. The Jackets have been unchallenged through 56-14 and 35-6 wins against Vancleave and East Central. Stone represents their toughest task yet and the Tomcats are hoping to bounce back from last week's poor offensive showing against Poplarville.