25 Teams in 25 Days: Gautier Gators

In their first season competing in Class 6A, the Gautier Gators finished with a 3-7 record. But despite the final numbers, the Gators showed steady improvement throughout the season. Now, with nearly their entire roster returning, head coach Marc High believes those growing pains are about to pay off.

“When you get guys on the field that’s been through the fire a little bit, it’s always helpful. Last year we didn’t have as many as we’re used to a couple years before, so it’s just a learning process for them and it takes time for them to get to where they need to be mentally, physically and all that, so we feel good with where we are,” said Marc High.

And Coach High has plenty of reasons for optimism.

Gautier returns all but six starters from last year’s team, giving the Gators one of their most experienced rosters in recent memory.

“It feels good to have everybody back. We’ve got eight and eight on both sides of the ball. Last year we didn’t have everybody coming back, so it was kind of rough, but this year everybody’s ready,” said Devon “DJ” Garrett.

“We have about five or six seniors that have been playing since their sophomore year. They have a lot of experience and half of them played during our state game, so they know what it’s like to be a leader,” said Preston Jackson-Ladnier.

“We talked about what it takes to be a leader and what we want from leadership, and what we try to do is we want a leader at every position. The kids really pushed through that and there’s some positions we feel like there’s two leaders, so we feel positive about where we are and how the kids are playing,” said Coach High. “On our defensive line we have four guys that have started for three years, so those guys being back helps out.  Our entire offensive line has returned, so we feel better with that because last year they were basically all new, so those guys working of course with the quarterback and the running back being year two and year three for them so we’re looking forward to getting things out of them two. In the secondary we have Kingston McNeil who’s coming back and going to be helping us out. Kyshun Carter has done a really good job and we’ve picked up Isiah Dean at the linebacker and he’s kind of our nuts and bolts getting everybody situated. Offensive line is Jackson Summers who’s done and incredible job and Landyn Taylor is another guy we’re leaning on a lot. Everybody talks about the receivers at Gautier so it’s Ashaun Tubbs and Devon “DJ” Garrett who are in there in the mix and we’ve also got Michael Boggs and other guys mixed around. We feel like right now we’re about one and a half to two deep at everyone of those spots.”

And after throwing for more than 2,200 yards as a freshman, Coach High talks about Keon McNeil and the quarterback room around him.

“Last year he started picking it up toward the end of the year, really catching on, and this year it’s already faster than it was at all last year. Ty Moore is going to be a guy working behind him. Ty is really coming along and picking up his timing and his progression and all that, so we’re feeling good about that,” said Coach High.

Senior Gators go into detail about their offseason work and give praise to their position groups.

“They’re just good mentally. They’re very strong and they don’t really let anything get to them. We’re just ready,” said Jackson-Ladnier.

“We just work real hard. We’ve been working real hard this summer and have been in the weight room a lot. I think we’ll bring it home this year. Malik Ward, he’s going Division I, so I’m excited to play with him as well as Beasley, Demarion and Christian Cole. It’s the squad we’ve been going around with all year. I’m ready to play with them one more time,” said Larry Freightman.

“We’ve been grinding and we’ve been hitting the weight room hard trying to get stronger and faster and try to build our chemistry back up. We’ve got a lot of guys coming back. We’re just going to be good, going to put on for the city, and keep God first and everything will work out,” said Garrett.

The Gautier Gators will kick off the 2026 season on their own turf as they welcome the George County Rebels on August 28.