If you were sitting in the stands at Davis Wade Stadium this past December, you know exactly why high school football in this state is basically a religion. The 2025 season didn't just end; it exploded. We saw heavyweights fall, underdogs find their teeth, and a few scores that honestly looked more like Madden stats than actual prep games.
Whether you’re a die-hard from the Coast or a Delta football purist, keeping up with mississippi high football scores is a full-time job. This year, the MHSAA state championships delivered everything from a heart-stopping 21-20 buzzer-beater in Class 7A to a defensive slugfest in 4A that ended 6-0. It was wild.
The 7A Heartbreaker: Gulfport vs. Tupelo
Let's talk about the big one. Gulfport had been fielding a team for 114 years without a state title. Think about that for a second. Over a century of Friday nights without the big trophy.
On Saturday, December 6, that finally changed.
The Class 7A title game against Tupelo was a literal seesaw. Tupelo’s Jaeden Hill looked like he had sealed it with a 3-yard touchdown run with only 27 seconds left on the clock. The Tupelo side of the stadium was already celebrating. But Gulfport quarterback Parker Nettles had other ideas.
With the clock hitting zero, Nettles launched a 33-yard prayer to Mylan Stubbs. Touchdown. Carter Platt knocked through the extra point, and Gulfport walked away with a 21-21 victory—well, technically 21-20 after that kick. It was the kind of game that reminds you why you never leave early.
Key Stats from the 7A Title
- Gulfport Yards: 376 total yards.
- Cooper Crosby (Gulfport): 167 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
- Jaeden Hill (Tupelo): 133 rushing yards on 26 carries.
- The Final Play: 33-yard TD pass from Nettles to Stubbs as time expired.
Underdogs and Powerhouses: The 5A and 6A Shakedown
A lot of people expected the West Point Green Wave to do what they usually do: win. But the Brookhaven Panthers weren't interested in that script. Brookhaven turned a 19-10 halftime deficit into a 31-19 victory by scoring 21 unanswered points in the third quarter.
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The hero? Sophomore Hampton Smith.
The kid recorded 20 tackles. In one game. That's not just "good for a sophomore"; that's elite at any level. Brookhaven’s Jeremy Bibbs also snagged a 24-yard pick-six that basically put the nails in the coffin.
Then you have Warren Central in Class 6A. They took on Hattiesburg and decided the second half belonged to them. After a 21-21 tie at the break, the Vikings went on a 28-point tear to win 56-34. If you like high-scoring track meets on grass, that was your game.
Smaller Schools, Bigger Dramas
Sometimes the most intense mississippi high football scores come from the 1A and 2A ranks. Look at East Webster. They were celebrating their 40th anniversary as a program, and they capped it off with their first-ever state title by beating Heidelberg 28-16.
Coach Ron Price used a two-quarterback system all year with Kross Avent and Cooper Stidham. It’s a risky move that usually makes coaches pull their hair out, but it worked perfectly. Avent, just a sophomore, iced the game with a 28-yard TD run on a gutsy 4th-down call.
Meanwhile, in Class 3A, Raleigh proved that "defense wins championships" isn't just a cliché. They held off a late surge from Noxubee County to win 12-6. The game ended with a goal-line stand against Noxubee’s star Jaiden Taylor—a Mississippi State signee who usually finds a way into the end zone. Not this time.
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Quick Championship Scoreboard Recap
- Class 7A: Gulfport 21, Tupelo 20
- Class 6A: Warren Central 56, Hattiesburg 34
- Class 5A: Brookhaven 31, West Point 19
- Class 4A: Columbia 6, Kosciusko 0
- Class 3A: Raleigh 12, Noxubee County 6
- Class 2A: East Webster 28, Heidelberg 16
- Class 1A: Calhoun City 14, Simmons 8
Why the Scores Look Different Now
You’ve probably noticed that scores are creeping higher across the board. The 2025 season saw teams like Germantown putting up 70 points in the playoffs (against DeSoto Central).
The spread offense has completely taken over the Magnolia State. Even traditional "ground and pound" teams are starting to air it out more. But don't tell that to Columbia. Their 6-0 win over Kosciusko in the 4A title game was a throwback to the 1970s. Tra Lewis scored the only touchdown with 15 seconds left. It was ugly, physical, and absolutely beautiful if you're a defensive coordinator.
Columbia finished as the only undefeated team in the MHSAA this year at 15-0. That’s a massive achievement considering the gauntlet they had to run.
Recruiting Watch: Names Behind the Numbers
The scores tell you who won, but the stats tell you who's going to be playing on Saturdays soon.
- Tylan Keys (Poplarville): Finished the year with a staggering 3,285 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns.
- Brady Chancelor (Seminary): Threw for 3,419 yards as a sophomore.
- Derwin Fields (Brookhaven): An edge rusher who is already a top 2027 prospect.
It's also worth noting that Lane Kiffin's son, Knox Kiffin, made waves this year after his move to a new high school, though the real story remains the local talent coming out of places like Noxubee County and Starkville.
How to Track Scores Moving Forward
Honestly, keeping up with Mississippi prep ball is easier than it used to be, but you still have to know where to look. The MHSAA app is the "official" source, but it can be glitchy on Friday nights when everyone in the state is trying to refresh it at the same time.
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MaxPreps usually has the best stat breakdowns, while "High School on SI" has become the go-to for live scoreboards. If you're looking for the deep-dive analysis, the MHSAA Podcast with Rickey Neaves is actually pretty solid for hearing the logic behind playoff seeding and rule changes.
What’s Next for Mississippi Football?
The 2026 season is already looming. With the MAAA Conference meetings happening this January and soccer taking over the stadiums for a few months, the pads are off, but the work hasn't stopped.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve for next season, start by looking at the "Mr. Football" award winners. These players almost always dictate the flow of the next season's rankings. Also, keep an eye on the realignment talk; as school populations shift, we often see traditional rivalries get moved between classifications, which completely changes the playoff brackets.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Recruiters:
- Follow the Sophomores: This year was dominated by 2027 prospects like Hampton Smith and Brady Chancelor. They will be the face of the state next year.
- Watch the 7A Transition: The new 7A classification is still settling in. Gulfport’s win proves the power balance is shifting away from just the traditional North Mississippi powers.
- Check the Brackets Early: MHSAA usually releases preliminary brackets for the following year by late spring. Bookmark the official MHSAA football page to see if your local team is moving up or down a class.
The scores from this season are in the record books, but the momentum is already shifting toward August.