25 Teams in 25 Days: Gulfport Admirals

WXXV is a fifth of the way through the 25 Teams in 25 Days segment. Day five brings us to the Port City where Head Coach Blake Pennock is taking on year three with the Admirals and he’s got some playmakers who are ready to make a lot of noise. It’s day five of 25 Teams in 25 Days, introducing you to the Gulfport Admirals.

“The big thing about it is culture. Just being able to have discipline and do the right thing over and over again. Gulfport has always had talent and putting that talent going into the right direction to be positive to get a chance to win,” said Head Coach Blake Pennock. “The district just keeps getting better and better and Region Three is getting better and better, so you have to find a way to close the gap. I’ve been really impressed with how tight this group is  and how competitive their nature is and such. It’s really exciting to continue seeing them grow consistently.”

Ever since Head Coach Blake Pennock took over in 2023, the Gulfport Admirals have shown signs growth with a 6-5 and then 7-4 record and many college offers, but one thing that’s remained the same is ending their season in the first round of playoffs by one possession.

         “It’s all just the little bitty things,” Coach Pennock said. “In other stops that I’ve been to, first round games really haven’t been a big thing. You win them, you move on, then you go to the next round. Obviously here you wear that monkey on your back in Gulfport, but we’re so close. It’s right there and just a play here and play there. I think the biggest part of that is the consistency. Obviously when you play great teams that you will play in Region Three and that first round, you better be great at the little things and obviously having that matra going in and doing those little things correctly day in and day out are going to be that difference in the little field goal or that extra point or whatever that is to put you over the hump.”

If there’s any year to get over that hump, the Admiral defense is sure to make a difference bringing back the leaders in tackles per game, caused fumbles, fumble recoveries, and quarterback hurries.

         “Defensively I feel really good about what the guys have going on. Andre Petters is obviously where you start on defense, Javon Anderson at defensive end, Juice Robertson, and we’ve got a new guy in Nick Strickland that’s been unblockable during practices and such, and Pierre Felder at safety,” Pennock said. “We’ve just got a lot of guys right there on all three levels of the defense to impact our game.

         Don’t sell the offense short either, though. They may not be the oldest as a group, but they have leaders that very well could take them all the way starting with senior returner and speedy Gonzalez, Cooper Crosby. The three star Louisiana running back commit rushed for over 1,000 yards last season which also resulted in being the Admiral’s leading scorer.

         “Cooper Crosby, everybody knows about him. We’re looking for him to have an even better year. He’s had a great year and great potential and those types of things and we’re looking for him to take that elite step,” said Pennock. “Parker Nettles is the quarterback. Everybody is going to get to know him as the season progresses. He’s a guy that’s got a ton of ability, ton of experience from where he came from and I’m really excited about his potential and a couple other guys in the mix there to create some explosiveness on offense.”  

         “It’s been great. I’ve been working with all my guys, my receivers on the daily and they’ve really accepted me,” senior quarterback Parker Nettles said. “They’re great friends and great people and I enjoy being around them.”

         This is starting quarterback Blake Nettles’ first year suiting up for the orange and blue, recently playing for Silliman Institute in Louisiana. As a sophomore, the East Mississippi commit threw for over 2,100 yards and 35 touchdowns. Pair him with the wheels of Crosby and just imagine what the two will be capable of doing on Friday nights.

         “He’s been great. He’s fast, strong, in the weight room he works his butt off, and that’s probably why he’s so successful because he works so hard,” said Nettles. “It’s been great to have him. He’s been a great friend, we’re going golfing tomorrow and it’s going to be awesome. 

         “It’s two season guys,” Pennock said. “Both of those guys have played a ton of football, and Parker coming into a new school, he’s been here for a while and has really gotten in with the guys. They both like similar things. They’re friends off the field and having that rapport with two guys that are probably going to touch the football the most game in and game out is an important thing, and the chemistry that they have is an important part to our success. I think the way that we put the ball around to all of our playmakers, play great defense, playing an exciting brand. Ultimately we’re going to play hard, we’re going to play physical. It’s really important to our players to represent “the G” in the right way and our fans in Gulfport wanting to be positive towards our boys. These guys are putting out so much time and so much effort to represent the City of Gulfport  and having their support means the world.”

         On August 29th the Port City will get to rally around the Admiral football team as they host the Picayune Maroon Tide for Week One.