WXXV: News 25’s 25 Teams in 25 Days: Ocean Springs Greyhounds

OCEAN SPRINGS — The Ocean Springs football program is a combined 23-2 over the last two years, and was every bit the contender to win the 6A State title both times.

But much like the Tennessee Volunteers won the BCS National Championship the year after they were supposed to – the year after Peyton Manning went to the NFL – that’s the mindset for the 2023 Greyhounds.

“When our head coach left, we were all a little upset and things,” said Ocean Springs senior defensive tackle Talan Carter. “But when Coach Bramlett stepped in he brought us all together as one team, unified us. We’re all in at that point.”

Head Coach Jake Bramlett said, “That was what I said whenever I walked in that first day and started preaching the all in and everybody in as one, all these coaches in as one, everybody that wants to be in that fieldhouse is in that fieldhouse, and those guys rallied behind that. They jumped in, took off and we haven’t let up since then.”

When Blake Pennock left for Gulfport, opportunity came knocking at Bramlett’s door after serving as the Ocean Springs offensive coordinator and strength and conditioning coach for the last three years, now a first-time head coach.

“It meant the world to me. I mean starting out my career, this is a place I wanted to be at. I mean looking back, you wouldn’t ever think this is going to be your first head coaching job at a 7A level and that took me a little bit by surprise. But when the opportunity presented itself and I saw the support that I had, I couldn’t not go after it.”

Of course, the Greyhounds have been go-getters ever since Bramlett’s arrival in 2020, thriving under his offense en route to back-to-back perfect regular seasons in 2021 and 2022.

“Coach put it in our head, we’ve got to get it back-to-back,” said Carter. “Just going undefeated sets the tone for the playoffs.”

The high point last year was a 42-25 playoff win over Oak Grove in which OS exacted its revenge against OG.

“It was the night, but that whole school day, we wanted it,” said Carter. “We wanted it that whole week at practice, so we knew we were going to go get it that whole time, so when that night came, everybody was ready to rally.”

On the other side of that second-round victory, Ocean Springs playing for a South State crown for the first time in 13 years.

But whatever gold ball dreams the Greyhounds were having, visiting Brandon had other ideas, resulting in a crushing 34-31 defeat on a field goal at the buzzer. It was the first game for OS decided by fewer than 17 points all season long.

“We came so far, and it just ended that short from state, only one time in Ocean Springs history was almost two,” said Carter.

“Whenever you talk about that bitter taste in your mouth at the end of the last season, whenever you hit that on a Monday morning or a Monday pre-practice, it brings that fire back into them that every practice matters,” said Bramlett. “Every snap matters. Every rep matters, and we’ve all got that end goal of being there on December 1st.”

For the back-to-back district champs, the path forward is without one of the best to ever do it on Friday’s in Mississippi. Once-in-a-generation talent Bray Hubbard accounted for more than 9,000 total yards and 107 touchdowns over the last three years on his way to becoming the only player to ever win back-to-back 6A Mr. Football.

The former News 25 Student-Athlete of the Week is now a freshman at Alabama, which leaves a mighty tough act to follow for the next in line under center, Will Berglind.

“Definitely big shoes to fill, but I just learned his resilience and how much he put in work,” said Berglind. “Obviously, he was a great player, but hopefully just keep on his legacy and keep the Greyhounds going.”

“I understand being slept on, man,” said Carter. “Bray Hubbard was phenomenal, one of the best things to ever come through Ocean Springs. But shoot, quarterback William Berglind, stepping in, filling big roles.”

“What this team does have is 22 football players that are ready to go, and instead of one person replacing Bray, he’s being replaced by 11 people on offense and they understand that,” said Bramlett.

Offensively, Ocean Springs is ready to feature another heavy dose of junior running back Will Smith, now healthy from a season-ending injury, as well as junior wideout Isaiah Sinclair as the ‘X’ receiver.

But the strength of this year’s team should be a defensive unit that returns nine of 11 starters. Some of the household names are 3-Star linebacker Eric Moore Jr., Gulfport transfer Kristian Dillard, the Carter’s – Trace and Talan – Lamar Vaxter and Bryhsen Smith.

“In the front seven, we’ve got some dogs up there in the front seven, especially on D-line, starting with yours truly, Talan Carter,” said Carter.

“Especially our linebackers and our D-line, like I don’t have a lot of time which helps us all-in-all when we go against these smaller D-lines that aren’t as good as them, like we’ll be used to like the best,” said Berglind.

“I do want an aggressive defense,” said Bramlett. “I want a defense that creates turnovers. I want a defense that creates havoc. I want guys that go after it. When we walk on the field, it’s going to be high motor, ears pinned back and we’re going.”

Overall, the Greyhounds return 15 starters and 23 seniors who all have a new standard to uphold after last year’s 12-1 finish and perhaps beyond this year as Ocean Springs looks to pull off its best 1998 Tennessee.

“We get better every year,” said Carter. “We didn’t reach the top so many times. We’re ready to get there and prove a point. Stand on that.”

“I think it was special for everybody, even the community, like even they loved it,” said Berglind. “I think it was just special for everyone to see like how far we’ve come, and how like this is our new standard and just hopefully building from there.”

“They took it upon themselves to leave a legacy of dominance in Ocean Springs and their tenure here,” said Bramlett. “These guys that are seniors right now, as sophomores, they’ve never lost a regular season game and they don’t look to stop now.”

Ocean Springs hits the road for week one against Madison Central on August 25. But of course, all eyes are on that first reunion with Coach Pennock over at Gulfport on October 27.