GULF LIVE: Ocean Springs shuts out D’Iberville for first time since 2015

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- The Ocean Springs offense draws the lion’s share of the attention -- understandably so since that’s where the reigning Class 6A Player of the Year, Bray Hubbard, does most of his work.

But perhaps it’s time the Greyhound defense got a bit more of that attention.

Ocean Springs ran its regular season unbeaten streak to 16 games with a 40-0 win over D’Iberville last Friday night, marking the first time in six years the Greyhounds had shut out their Region 4-6A rivals and only the second time since the Mississippi High School Activities Association expanded the number of classifications to six and the Warriors joined Ocean Springs in Class 6A in 2009.

With that shutout, the Ocean Springs defense is now allowing an average of just 5.2 points per game. Yes, you read that correctly -- less than two field goals per contest.

The defensive standouts were many, led by Kershawn Thomas with 15 tackles and three tackles for loss (TFL). Trace Carter added 11 tackles and three TFLs; Eric Moore had 12 tackles and one TFL; and Talan Carter had six tackles and three TFLs.

Two D’Iberville quarterbacks -- Gage Peterson and Connor Jones -- were limited to just two pass completions for 66 yards. The Warriors rushed for 151 yards, led by Landyn Shannon’s 8 carries for 80 yards, but were held to just a 3.7 yards per carry average (compared to a 7.4 ypc average for Ocean Springs).

That defensive dominance was more than enough for Hubbard and his offensive cohorts. Hubbard rebounded from two subpar passing performances to throw for 282 yards and four touchdowns and completed 16 of 17 passes. His heir apparent, junior William Berglind, came on late to go 4-4, leaving the two OS quarterbacks with a completion percentage of 95.2% for the game.

Hubbard also rushed for 65 yards and two touchdowns, giving him 347 yards in total offense and six touchdowns. Sophomore Will Smith carried twice for 60 yards, while senior Christian White led a group of seven receivers with five catches for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Jax Coleman and Bryant Ausmer each had a touchdown reception.

Ocean Springs, now 5-0 overall and 2-0 in Region 4-6A, will travel to face surprising Biloxi (4-1, 2-0) in a Thursday night contest. D’Iberville, off to one of its worst starts in years at 1-5/0-2, will travel to face Pascagoula (2-3, 0-2).