Sun Herald: Ocean Springs begins a run at high school football history with a 1st-round playoff win

Originally published November 13, 2021

A masterful performance from Ocean Springs quarterback Bray Hubbard and his supporting cast led to a rout of Pearl and gave the Greyhounds their first playoff win since 2014.

The two sides traded scores in the first half before a flurry of OSHS points in the back half resulted in a 54-28 win over the Pirates. Five different Greyhounds crossed the plane into the end zone in the second half alone.

“I’m just really excited about the way we played,” Blake Pennock, Ocean Springs head coach, said after the game. “Our quarterback played tremendous, getting the ball to all our players. I thought Bray Hubbard did a tremendous job throwing the ball and making some tough runs.”

Pearl opened the game with a long touchdown run by quarterback Jerry Johnson, but Hubbard responded with his own 58-yard touchdown run on the Greyhounds’ second play from scrimmage.

“Their quarterback is super athletic and he’s done that to a lot of teams,” Pennock said. “They hit a good gap their but we were able to answer back, which is good. It sets the tone of the game. They’re going to give their best shot and we take it and keep on going.”

Ocean Springs gave up a 69-yard touchdown run to Johnson again but surrounded it with two more scores of their own to take a slim one-score lead into the break.

“Really challenged the guys in the locker room at halftime,” Pennock said. “We haven’t been in a lot of (close games). A lot of our scores at halftime have been 28-0 or 28-7 or something like that. We really challenged our guys to pick up the intensity and play a little bit better.”

The Greyhounds got help from the entire offense over the last two quarters. Hubbard scored on the ground and through the air.

JP Coulter caught a touchdown pass after scoring a rushing touchdown earlier in the game. Holton White and Evan McNally got in the scoring with touchdown receptions of their own.

To cap the night, the sturdy David Humphries scored his 14th touchdown of the season.

“Offensively for us it was just a great job all around by all of our guys,” Pennock said. “I can’t really get over David Humphries, man. He earned every yard he got tonight.”

Hubbard recorded 332 total yards of offense and six touchdowns, four via pass and two by the run. Coulter had 80 receiving yards with two touchdown catches plus 48 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

With the win, the program has its first 11-win season and appearance in the second round of the playoffs in seven years. Pennock relayed his excitement for the school’s return to postseason success but is adamant there is more work to do.

“It’s good for the school, it’s good for the community, it’s good for the players and program,” Pennock said. “But our guys have big goals. We want to go all the way. Big thing for us was getting this first one out of the way and now we’re on to round two.”

Pennock’s team will now host a familiar postseason opponent that has given the Greyhounds fits for nearly two decades. State power Oak Grove has met OSHS six times since 2004, all in the playoffs. The Warriors have won five in a row and have beaten the Greyhounds by double digits each time.

A win would give the Greyhounds’ region its first trip to the third round since 2009.

Ocean Springs will look to get over another hill and end yet another streak next Friday night in the confines of its own building at Greyhound Stadium.