25 teams in 25 days: Pascagoula Panthers

Last season the Panthers finished 8-4 and finished one game above .500 in district play with a 3-2 record. While most teams find their success at home, Pascagoula’s success came on the road where they finished 6-1. Their season came to an end with a second-round playoff loss to Picayune and the Maroon tide. Head coach Lewis Sims understands that, while they had a great 2023 season, all sights must be set on 2024.

“Every year is a new year,” Sims said. “I mean, we put a nail in the coffin of 2023 last year at our banquet. We moved on. In fact, the day after the season, we were back in the weight room ready to go. It’s just the mentality you have to have. This is a new year, new group of guys, new set of opportunities. These seniors want to leave a legacy.”

Two of the seniors that Sims mentions are quarterback Silas Corder and middle linebacker Jaylon Parnell. Corder, who is verbally committed to the University of Southern Miss, is ready to lead his team through another season at the quarterback position. Parnell, who is committed to Louisiana Tech University, is ready to become more of a vocal leader on the defensive side of the ball. Both say they are ready to play with a group of guys that they have grown up with.

“These are my guys,” Corder said. “Since I was three years old. Same school, same school district our whole entire life. One more time, that is huge for us, and state championship is the goal.”

“Man, I am super excited,” Parnell said. “I can’t wait for the season to start. The chemistry that we have and the bonding, I just love it. I have been playing with these guys since I was little. Jared Loper, Sebastian Ford – they are all great guys – Tylen Woodson, I just love it.”

Coach Sims knows just how difficult of a region the Panthers are competing against. That is why he says his team is focused and prepared for what’s to come.

“Our region is stacked with talent,” Sims said. “They are well coached and they are well disciplined. Whatever we do we have to make sure that we are ready for that schedule. We are working to that now.”

That schedule is just a few weeks away from getting started. When it does coach Sims and Corder say they will be ready as a team to compete for their ultimate goal – a state championship.

“This is what we practice for,” Corder said. Friday nights is where the show is. It is the most exiting part. That is why I play.”

“Once you get into it, all of the sudden the fog of war descends on you, it is here before you know it. It really does go quickly,” Sims said. “I can’t wait for Friday nights. There is nothing life Friday nights in south Mississippi.”