by Hunter Dawkins, Publisher/Owner – thegazebogazette@gmail.com or hdawkins@supertalk.fm
The first week of football is upon us and the big rivalry starts the season off with two West Harrison County opponents, hoping to begin their season right. Opening their 100th official season of high school football, the Long Beach Bearcats will host the cross-town rival Pass Christian Pirates at the Lumpkin Magee Stadium in the city of Long Beach for the 7th Annual Oyster Bowl sponsored by The Gazebo Gazette (the Harrison County independent newspaper).
Despite losing six consecutive Oyster Bowl games, the Long Beach Bearcats have the lead in the overall 40-23-1 over the Pass Christian Pirates. As both teams had new head coaches last year, the Bearcats squandered a 21-14 lead going into the half giving the Pirates a 49-21 victory at the Francis McDonald Stadium in Pass Christian.
Specific facts about this rivalry game are:
- Long Beach leads the 2nd longest Harrison County rivalry 40-23-1
- Pass Christian has won 6 games in a row since 2017
- Long Beach was 6-1 from 2000-2006
- Pass Christian has one 10 win season, Long Beach has 3
- Long Beach – 100th high school football season, Pass Christian – 94th high school season
- November 12, 1965 – only tie between Pass Christian and Long Beach 6-6 in Long Beach
From the side of the visiting squad, Pass High has played better recently in this rivalry and have several historical facts below:
- 28-22, 3-4 playoff record with the first MHSAA Quarterfinals Berth Ever in 2023
- Won two Pascagoula River Conference Championship in 1974-1975 as the team’s only football championships
- First MHSAA Playoff Berth was in 2001 where the team finished 9-2 and shutout Long Beach 34-0 in the second game.
- Coaches Joseph Brown & Kenny Lyons have the records for most wins with 34 each
- 308-447-15 overall record
The Bearcats are looking forward to a number firsts in nearly a decade, including the first win in this series since 2017, the first winning season since 2017 and first district victory since 2018. Below are the historical facts:
- One MHSAA District Title in 2005, 2-6 Playoff record between 2005-2011
- Two undefeated seasons, 11-0 in 1961 & 1973, both with shutout wins over Pass Christian
- Two Gulf Coast Conference Championships in 1973 & 1974, where the 1974 team lost the Bowl game 14-12 to Pass Christian
- Coach Paul Magee has the Long Beach Record for most wins with 51 from 1956-1963
- 354-450-12 overall record
Being Part 1 of The Oyster Bowl series, more will be included before the release of the Friday edition and game. With the Bearcats hosting, the football game is scheduled for 7pm at Lumpkin Magee Stadium in Long Beach.
(Photo by Aimee Cronan/The Gazebo Gazette via AP, Inside Design by Jason Platz/The Gazebo Gazette)
