Fourteen athletes represent the Gulf Coast in 2024 Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star game

On Saturday the best of the best in the Magnolia state gathered at Milner Stadium in Gulfport for the 2024 Bernard Blackwell North/South All-Star game. Out of 28 players chosen to represent the southern part of Mississippi, fourteen athletes were also representing the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Getting us started off right is George County’s Kohl Bradley and Moss Point’s Deshawn Feazell being selected as captains prior to kick off.

South team with possession first and they attempt a field goal but it’s blocked! Patiently waiting for the blue to touch it is Gautier’s Fred Nicholson and boy was the wait worth it, perfectly stripping the ball and recovering it to get the south team new life. That right there is why he’s a Southern Miss signee.

Making good on Nicholson’s effort is Kendetryon Backstorm scrambling and finding Darian Wells in the end zone for a touchdown! The south team strikes first, snap by Nicholson and hold by George County’s Brenn Moody and the extra point attempt is good.

The north team trying to get things started themselves with a handoff, but George County’s Kohl Bradley is coming full force and that man is not going anywhere. 

Bradley is not alone on the defense however, this time it’s Pascagoula’s Sebastian Ford getting in on the action for a big stop, he’s not the only one either! West Harrison’s Josh Lane comes at them like a hurricane and it’s a tackle for a loss. 

North ends up scoring on the drive tying in 7-7, and in comes Pascagoula quarterback Silas Corder! Corder shuffles back and sends a perfectly placed rocket midfield to Jaleil Cameron who puts on the jets who’s brought down just shy of the end zone. We all know Corder’s going to finish what he’s started, and he hands the ball off to Kylin Champagne and it’s another touchdown for the south! The extra point attempt is no good, but the south team retakes the lead.

A few minutes left in the half and that’s all Josh Lane needs, yet another stop by the West Harrison linebacker. North team two yards away to make a difference, Tray Kinkle makes it happen, north takes the lead again now 13-14.

Gautier’s Trey Irving in now for the red, looks at his options and calls his own number demonstrating his legs are just as talented as his arm, picking up a south first down. Irving is quickly pressured and throws a dart to his receiver Cory Jackson and it’s a huge gain for the boys in red.

Corder back in now, and he looks towards the sidelines and see’s his fellow 6A All-State member in George County’s Brenn Moody and Moody makes the catch to move the chains and that’ll do it for the half, score remains 13-14.

Starting out the second half with another Hurricane in the form of Samuel “Trey” Harris, he gets the south started with a first down. The Southern Miss signee is back at it, Corder with an impressive throw to a double covered Jaleil Cameron and it’s another first down for the south team.

Unfortunately it wasn’t enough in the end, and the north team goes home with bragging rights for the first time in five years. During the post game ceremony, Silas Corder received the South Academic Achievement award. Hear what he and many of his coast teammates had to say after playing in this prestigious game.

“It’s really cool having this fraternity being here and being chosen for this is really special because most guys can’t do it,” said Silas Corder. “It’s a testament to my hard work and the coaches around me. The coast is a star studded cast and being a part of that is really special and really cool and I think it’s a testament to everyone’s hard work again.”

“It’s a great honor to be selected to such an elite group of people and to spend the week with them and to really enjoy the weekend and it’s a great honor like I said to represent the state,” said Fred Nicholson.

“It’s a good feeling because it’s where I’m from, Mississippi, so it’s a pretty good feeling that I got picked to do this and I’m thankful,” said Kohl Bradley. “Just a lot of emotions to see where I came from and how much better I’ve gotten over time and how many friends and brothers I’ve gained on the way.”

“It means a lot,” said Brenn Moody. “You work hard for this since you’ve been a little kid and you dream about doing things like this and I’m just happy that God gave me the ability and talent to get me to where I am right now.”

“It’s a blessing from the man up above. I thank Him for giving me this opportunity to come out here and grind with these boys that love football, so it’s a blessing and I thank God so much for giving me this opportunity,” said Deshawn Feazell. “We represent everything. When we come here we represent the coast. When people know somebody’s from the coast, they know we’re going to bring it every time.”

Congratulations to all fourteen athletes on the outstanding honor, and we look forward to all the greatness you each will accomplish next!