OCEAN SPRINGS – Ocean Springs is going back to the South State championship game.

The Greyhounds earned their first chance to play for a South State title since 2004 thanks to an explosive offense led by Allen Howze and Joe Morrow, and a tenacious defense that held the high-powered Natchez Bulldogs in check.

Ocean Springs rolled up 417 yards of offense en route to a convincing 35-12 win over Natchez in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs at Greyhound Stadium/Hugh Pepper Field Friday night.

“They don’t send out invitations to South State,” Ocean Springs coach Todd Mangum told his team, after they improved to 11-2. “You have to earn it.”

The ‘Hounds did just that, and they will travel to Oak Grove next week to play in the South State title game. Oak Grove eliminated Meridian, 42-28, Friday.

Natchez (9-4) was averaging 31 points a game, but Ocean Springs came up with three turnovers and a great goal-line stand to stop the Bulldogs.

“For our defense to hold that offense to 12 points is a major accomplishment,” Mangum said. “For us to hold them at the end was huge because they can score in a hurry.

Ocean Springs’ offense gained over 400 yards for the second straight game.

Howze rushed for 167 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns on runs of 72 and 13 yards. He’s excited to be playing next week for a chance to go to the state title game.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” said Howze, who scored both of his TDs in the final period to help the ‘Hounds pull away. “I felt great in the fourth quarter. Their defense got tired and our offensive line took advantage.”

The OS ‘O’ line allowed the ‘Hounds to rush for 327 yards. Dewayne Cherry had 102 yards on 12 carries, and quarterback Sam Noblin added 46 yards, including a 4-yard TD run.

Noblin also hit Morrow for a 73-yard touchdown pass in the first period. Morrow stretched to make the catch and then out ran their Bulldog secondary.

“Coach asked what route I wanted and I just ran a fly,” said Morrow, who had two catches for 90 yards. “Sam (Noblin) put the ball right in my hand.”

Morrow may have been more impressive on defense.

In the first period, Morrow had three takeaways on the Bulldogs’ first three possessions. His interception of Natchez QB Javon Washington setup the ‘Hounds first score, thanks to his 43-yard return.

Justin Danise kicked the first of his two field goals after that theft with 9:10 left in the first period to give OS a 3-0 lead.

Morrow intercepted another Washington pass on the Bulldogs next series. Washington had over 1700 yards passing coming in, but Morrow had his number.

“I was watching their quarterback’s eyes,” Morrow said of Washington, who finished 13 of 25 for 140 yards and a 16-yard TD to Santorius Pollard. “The quarterback was eyeing his receivers.”

The next time Natchez had the ball Washington hit Kevin Bailey for a big gain, but Morrow stripped the ball and recovered the fumble.

Two plays later, Noblin hit Morrow for the 73-yard TD and the ‘Hounds were up 10-0 with 2:34 left in the first period.

The Greyhounds used a 75-yard drive to pad their lead early in the second period. Noblin capped the 12-play march with a 4-yard run and OSHS led 17-0 with 7:52 left in the first half.

Natchez responded with a 14-play, 81-yard drive and Washington’s 16-yard TD toss to Pollard cut the gap to 17-6 with 2:33 left in the half.

OS had a long drive to start the third period, but it stalled. Danise booted a 22-yard field goal to capped the 85-yard march and the ‘Hounds led 20-6 with 6:00 to go in the third.

But the Bulldogs came right back and Washington capped an 80-yard drive with a 7-yard TD run to trim the ‘Hounds’ lead to 20-12 with 41 seconds left in the third.

Howze and the ‘Hounds controlled the final period.

Howze scored on a 13-yard sweep around left end with 10:57 left in the game to make it 28-12.

Natchez didn’t quit, however, and drove to OS 2-yard line. Jacob Souers stopped Joel Davis for a 2-yard loss, and then Charles Watson broke up a pass in the end zone to bring up a fourth down.

Washington was headed for pay dirt on the fourth-down play, but a gang of ‘Hounds held him up and J.T. Dickson finished him off.

“That was huge,” said the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Dickson. “He was held up and I hit him at about the 2 inch line. That was a big stop.”

The ‘Hounds responded with a 99-yard drive, capped by Howze’s 72-yard run to finish off the Bulldogs.

Now the ‘Hounds are off to Oak Grove.

“We have a huge … huge opportunity to play for a South State Championship,” Mangum said.

The ‘Hounds take a five-game win streak into Oak Grove, and are one win from their first trip to the state title game since 2004.