Who has the toughest high school football schedule on the MS Coast? Here are the top 5

July is here, which means high school football is just around the corner. We’re just seven weeks away from jamboree week and schools across the Mississippi Coast are in the midst of summer workouts, in preparation.

With schedules largely locked in, we’re getting ready, as well. The Coast’s best teams will be hosting and visiting some of the best the state has to offer.

Last season was the first since 2010 the Coast did not place a single team in the state championship games. Evident by some of the slates put together, several teams are hoping to reach the final round by preparing against stiff early-season competition.

Here we’ll break down five of the toughest non-district schedules Coast teams will be facing this season.

5. Stone Tomcats

The Tomcats have a challenging road ahead of them. Stone’s first four games are all on the road and included 7A Biloxi, a loaded Poplarville team and a Quitman squad that reached the second round of the 3A playoffs. When Stone finally plays in Perkinston, it’ll be against the typically stout St. Stanislaus Rock-a-Chaws in a game that’s happening for just the second time since 1982.

4. Vancleave Bulldogs

The Bulldogs will be prepared for district competition. Vancleave must host Gulfport and its fierce defensive line and a Forrest County AHS team that has been competitive under former D’Iberville coach Larry Dolan. After that, the Bulldogs hit the road to play against the state’s top quarterback in Deuce Knight at George County. As a final tune-up before district, VHS will visit the always-rowdy House of Hancock to face 7A’s Hawks.

3. Picayune Maroon Tide

Picayune knows as well as anybody, to be the best you’ve got to beat the best. The Maroon Tide have Brandon at home to kick off the regular season. Gulfport and D’Iberville will also be making their way to Lee-Triplett, giving PHS four home games to start the year around a game against Louisiana’s Northshore.

Picayune’s truest test will come on Sept. 27 at Ocean Springs for a rematch of last year’s 10-point victory for the Greyhounds — which snapped the Maroon Tide’s 20-game win streak over Coast teams.

2. Gulfport Admirals

The Gulfport schedule is still being pieced together with one more game expected to be added, but return trips on the docket from Blake Pennock’s first season gives the Admirals plenty of iron to sharpen with. There may not be a tougher two-week stretch on the Coast than GHS’ back-to-back road at games at 7A and 6A South State runner-ups Madison Central and Picayune.

The Admirals will also have to host a Brandon team coming off a 10-win season and returning a number of top players — including the highly recruited Tyson Robinson.

1. Ocean Springs Greyhounds

The Greyhounds aren’t messing around. Second-year head coach Jake Bramlett beefed up the non-district schedule a year ago, but has taken that to another level this season. Ocean Springs will be facing Madison Central and Picayune and will have to play the defending 7A state champions, Oak Grove, on the road.

Honorable mention

Biloxi

• Stone

• Meridian

• at George County

• Hattiesburg

• at Pascagoula

D’Iberville

• at Columbia

• Gautier

• at Picayune

• at Pascagoula

• Wayne County

Gautier

• at Harrison Central

• at D’Iberville

• Pascagoula

• at Moss Point

• Columbia