Gulf Live: Ocean Springs makes history, now looks to change it

Originally published November 5, 2021

The Ocean Springs Greyhounds put the finishing touches on the program’s first undefeated season in 43 years with a 38-13 win over Harrison Central in Lyman Thursday night.

Junior quarterback Bray Hubbard again led the way, accounting for five touchdowns and 280 yards in offense. David Humphries rushed for 76 yards, while Holton White caught nine of Hubbard’s passes for 105 yards and two scores, while fellow receivers Evan McNally and J.P. Coulter each had a receiving touchdown.

Brady St. Amant led the defensive effort with 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss and a sack as the Greyhounds totaled 10 TFLs and recovered two Harrison Central fumbles. Kicker Bart Edmiston was good on all five point after attempts and added a 32-yard field goal.

Ocean Springs (10-0, 7-0) had already wrapped up the Region 4-6A title a week earlier after its win over Gulfport, so the win over the Red Rebels was largely meaningless, except for the history books.

In addition to being the Greyhounds first unbeaten campaign since 1978, it also marked the first time ever Ocean Springs has gone undefeated through region play. Six times the Greyhounds have finished 6-1 in the region -- including 2004, when they made their lone trip to the state title game, losing to Gulfport in the regular season (they were the region runner-up to the Admirals that year).

Now Ocean Springs turns it attention to Pearl and a first round playoff game at Greyhound Stadium. The Pirates finished 7-4 overall and 4-3 in the region after losing 38-7 to Brandon in a game also played on Thursday night due to a shortage of officials across the state.

Pearl is three years removed from its magical 16-0 state championship season, but Region 3 has traditionally dominated the coast 6A schools in the post season -- Ocean Springs in particular.

Since their run to the state title game in 2004, the Greyhounds have gone 3-17 against Region 3 teams in all games -- regular season or postseason. Over the past 10 years, Ocean Springs has exactly one postseason win, despite making the playoff in seven of those seasons.

If this Ocean Springs squad is to change that history, it will rely heavily on Hubbard, the junior signal caller who accounts for 60.7% of the Greyhounds offense, an offense which is averaging 43.5 points per game.

In 10 games, Hubbard has completed 69.9% of his passes for 1,796 yards and 26 touchdowns, against only 3 interceptions. He’s also rushed 124 times for 928 yards and another 18 scores. Hubbard’s gaudy totals: 2,724 yards in total offense and 44 touchdowns either passing or rushing.

Of Ocean Springs’ 59 total touchdowns this season, 74.6% have come via either Hubbard’s arm or legs.

He does have help, however. Running back David Humphries had an outstanding senior campaign with 1,307 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. As a team, Ocean Springs averages 7.9 yards per carry and 264.1 yards per game on the ground.

Holton White and J.P. Coulter lead the receiving corps, with White hauling in 49 passes for 662 yards and 11 touchdowns; and Coulter adding 38 catches for 589 yards and 8 TD.

While the offense garners most of the attention, it’s likely the defense which will be most crucial in any deep playoff run. It’s a unit currently allowing just 14.5 points per game.

The Greyhound defense has a whopping 96 tackles for loss this season, along with 21 sacks, five interceptions and 16 fumble recoveries. Remarkably, the Ocean Springs offense has only turned the ball over four times (three interceptions; one fumble) all season, leading to a turnover differential of +17.

Freshman Trace Carter has been a key contributor to that defensive effort, leading the Greyhounds in both tackles for loss (17) and sacks (6), and also has one of the five interceptions.

Ocean Springs has found yet another in a line of reliable placekickers in Bart Edmiston, who is 54-57 on PAT kicks and 7-8 on field goals, with a long field goal of 47 yards. He doubles as the team’s punter and is averaging 37.4 yards on 14 punts.

Pearl counters with its own 1-2 backfield punch in quarterback Jerry Johnson and running back Jamari Thompson, both seniors. Johnson has completed 57.5% of his passes for 1,135 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s also rushed for 826 yards and another nine TD, averaging 9.6 yards per carry.

Thompson, meanwhile, has rushed for 1,572 yards, 22 touchdowns and averages 7.5 yards per carry, leading a Pirate rushing attack that has similar number to Ocean Springs’: 241.3 yards per game, 7.4 yards per carry.

Defensive data on Pearl was not readily available, but the Pirates’ defensive unit has not been as stingy as the Greyhounds, allowing an average of 20.6 points per game.

Friday night’s game is set for 7 p.m. at Greyhound Stadium. It can also be live-streamed at osgreyhoundslive.com.