Maroon Tide advances with win over Hattiesburg 35-13

Audio replay of the game (Click Here)

Picayune—The formula for success for the Picayune continues to be the same; a swarming defense and a punishing run game. That mixture propelled the Maroon Tide to a 35-13 first round win in the Class 5A South State playoff win over the Hattiesburg Tigers at Lee-Triplett Stadium.

Picayune score on the first possession of the game going 60 yards in 8 plays with Chris Davis scoring on a 1 yard run with 8:00 left on the clock. Morgan Craft booted the point after for a 7-0 lead.

Photos by Randy Brown/WRJW Sports

Chris Davis (6) on his way for a touchdown behind a Darnell Smith (41) block.

After forcing a three and out by Hattiesburg, the Maroon Tide scored on its second possession with a 7 play 68 yard drive with Davis slashing in from 24 yards out. Craft was true again for a 14-0 lead with 2:01 left in the quarter.

Hattiesburg responded with a 10 play 60 yard drive on a Kamron Norwood 7 yard run with 8:48 left in the second quarter.

Payton Wells (60) opens a whole for Donte Dowdell against Hattiesburg.

The Maroon Tide pushed the lead back to a fourteen-point margin with 12 play 52 yard drive with Davis scoring again, this time from 3 yards out. Craft split the uprights for a 21-7 lead with 2:15 left in the half.

Picayune’s defense sacked Hattiesburg quarterback Jack Jackson on the last play of the half with the Tigers facing a fourth down at the Maroon Tide 25 yard line.

The Tigers got the ball to start the second half and the Maroon Tide forced another three and out punt. The snap on the punt play was off the mark and the Hattiesburg punter was able to get away the punt under extreme pressure resulting in the Maroon Tide getting the ball at the Tiger 27. Three plays later, Dawson Underwood threw a 25 yard touchdown to Noah Carter. Craft converted the extra point for a 28-7 lead with 9:15 left in the third quarter.

Hattiesburg responded with a touchdown on its possession after the Picayune kickoff. The Tigers score came on a 2 yard run by Malcolm Boykin. The point after was blocked and Picayune’s lead was 28-13 with 7:15 left in the quarter.

Picayune added another touchdown on a 3 yard run by Donte Dowdell. A 67 yard run by Darnell Smith set up the score for Picayune.

Picayune ran for 409 yards on 47 rushes. Dowdell had 29 carries for 224 yards. Smith added 113 yards on 9 carries. Davis had 46 yards on 6 rushes and Noah Carter ran the ball three times for 28 yards.

Picayune (11-1) will host Brookhaven on Friday in round 2. Brookhaven beat East Central 42-14. In other games, West Jones rallied late to beat Gautier 31-28 and Laurel blasted George County 59-20.