Maroon Tide holds off Wayne County 30-22

Waynesboro--After waiting through a one hour and twenty-two minute lightning delay during halftime, Picayune overcame a 14-13 halftime deficit to beat Wayne County 30-22 in the region opener at War Eagle Stadium.

The Maroon Tide scored on their first possession after forcing the War Eagles to punt. Picayune marched 66 yards on 9 plays with V.J. Holt scoring on a 15 yard run with 6:01 left in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead. The point after was wide left.

Wayne County got on the scoreboard with a defensive touchdown when Braxton Lee returned a Picayune fumble 27 yards for a touchdown with 3:41 left in the quarter. Heath Moseley's extra point made it 7-6.

Picayune took advantage of a Wayne County fumble to get their next score. Brian Taylor pounced on the loose ball at the War Eagle 31 and Holt scored again, this time from 6 yards out and Nagi's extra point put Picayune up 13-7 with 7:21 left in the second quarter.

The lead was short-lived as Wayne County scored on the next possession of the game when they recovered their own fumble in the end zone. Demetrius Harris pounced on the ball after WC fullback Perionta Norsworthy fumbled it after being hit at the one yard line. Moseley kicked the extra point to make it 14-13 with 6:07 left.

Picayune took the ball at their own 20 after the WC kickoff and moved the ball to War Eagle 35 on 12 plays before giving it back to Wayne County on downs.

On their second possession of the second half, Shaun Anderson bolted through the War Eagle defense for a 50 yard touchdown and Nagi's point after put the Maroon Tide up 20-14 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

Later in the quarter, Picayune's Kade Turnage was "johnny on the spot" when he grabbed a fumbled punt by the War Eagles at the WC 27 and raced in for a touchdown with 3:59 left in the third quarter. Nagi's point after made it 27-14.

Brian Taylor got his second fumble recovery that halted a WC drive at the Picayune 20. Picayune then drove to the WC 11 and settled for a 28 yard field goal from Nagi to extend the lead to 30-14 with 8:31 left in the game.

Wayne County scored on their next possession with a 10 play 63 yard drive with Norsworthy scoring from 7 yards out. The War Eagles converted a two-point conversion to make it a one possession game with 5:41 left.

Picayune started the next possession at their 20 after a touchback on the ensuing kickoff. The Maroon Tide converted four first downs to run out the clock taking a knee at the WC 6 yard line on the last play of the game.

Anderson paced the Maroon Tide with 197 yards on 32 carries. Defensively, Taylor and Elijah Jenkins lead the Maroon Tide.

Picayune (4-1, 1-0) will celebrate homecoming on Friday hosting West Harrison. Wayne County (2-3, 0-1) will travel to Pearl River Central.