Picayune storms back to beat Laurel 42-28
Audio replay of Picayune vs Laurel (Click Here)
Picayune—Turnovers and missed tackles put Picayune in a precarious situation against Laurel, but the Maroon Tide was able to find a way to come back from a touchdown deficit to win 42-28 and advance to next week South State Championship game.
After forcing the Golden Tornadoes to punt on their first possession, Picayune drove 96 yards on 10 plays with Cameron Thomas scoring from 9 yards out. Austin Samples kicked the point to make it 7-0 with 4:53 left in the first quarter.
Picayune’s Chad Dudenhefer recovered a fumble on the ensuing kick off at the Laurel 31. Kade Turnage scored 4 plays later on an 18 yard run and Samples’ point after made it 14-0 with 3:18 left in the quarter.
Laurel answered on their next possession with 42 yard touchdown pass from Dexter Scott to Kanarius Johnson. William Mora’s point after made it 14-7 with 2:03 left in the quarter.
All photos by Randy Brown / WRJW Sports
(L-R) Elijah Jenkins, Lawrence Hopkins, Deonta Reed, and Carson Connor.
Midway through the second quarter, Picayune’s Jalen Hall intercepted a Laurel pass that put the Maroon Tide in business at the Laurel 41. Five plays later, Picayune extended its lead to 21-7 on a 2 yard run by Samples and his extra point with 7:35 left in the half.
Laurel answered with a 6 play 68 yard drive scoring on a 24 yard pass from Xavier Evans to Johnson with 6:00 left in the half to cut the lead to 21-14.
Laurel forced a Maroon Tide punt on the next Picayune possession. The Golden Tornadoes scored on a 14 yard run by Xavier Evans with 1:46 left in the half to tie the game at 21-21.
Elijah Jenkins (54) pressures Laurel quarterback Dexter Scott.
Picayune took the ensuing kick off and moved the ball to the Laurel 10 yard line, but an interception in the end zone ended the half.
The first drive of the third quarter ended with a Picayune fumble at the Laurel 12.
On the first play after the fumble, Evans busted loose and ran it to the Maroon Tide 1. After Laurel was assessed a penalty on first down, Picayune’s defense held the Tornadoes on downs with Chad Dudenhefer making a tackle on fourth down at the Picayune 8.
Picayune fumbled the ball again on its next possession, this time at their own 25. Laurel scored 4 plays later on a 4 yard run by Evans to the lead 28-21 after Mora’s extra point with 2:53 left in the third quarter.
Picayune responded with a 8 play 65 yard drive on a Thomas 27 yard touchdown run to tie the game at 28-28 after Samples’ point after with 11:43 left in the game.
Jay Mickle (74) and Garrett Hunter (60) create hole for Picayune
Picayune forced Laurel to punt the ball away on the next possession.
Starting at its own 41, it took Picayune went the 59 yards on 5 plays with Thomas scoring on a 3 yard run with 8:35 left to regain the lead 35-28.
Laurel punted on its next possession, but Picayune was stopped on downs at the Laurel 28.
Laurel was facing a fourth down with 2:43 to play in the game from its 30, Dudenhefer sacked the quarterback.
Picayune scored thrs next possession, but Picayune was stopped on downs at the Laurel 28.ee plays later on a 12 yard run by Thomas, his 43rd rushing touchdown of the season, and Samples kicked the extra point with 1:39 left.
Cam Thomas (8) looks for room to run
Samples intercepted a pass to end Laurel’s next possession.
Evans led Laurel with 191 yards on 19 yards rushing and completed 2 of 5 passes for 80 yards.
Picayune ran the ball for 423 yards and Thomas finished with 319 yards on 37 carries.
Picayune (13-0) will play at West Jones (13-0) next Friday in South Championship game.
