Maroon Tide subdues Vancleave 49-7

Vancleave- Picayune put up 28 points in the first half, scoring three times in the second quarter and went on to post a 49-7 win over Vancleave. The win pushes Picayune’s record to 6-0 and 2-0 in Region 4-5A.

The Maroon Tide scored on the first possession of the game on Darnell Smith’s 30 yard run on the fifth play from scrimmage. Morgan Craft kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 10:30 left in the quarter.

Vancleave moved the ball from its 31 to the Maroon Tide 19, but missed a field goal attempt.

Picayune fumbled on its next possession, but got the ball back when the defense forced a Bulldog punt.

Four plays later, Brady Robertson (pictured) connected on a 36 yard pass to Tyran Warren to put the ball at the Vancleave 2. Chris Davis ran in it on the next play and Craft’s point after made 14-0 with 6:54 left in the half.

Picayune held Vancleave on downs to get the ball back at the Maroon Tide 42. Three plays later, Dante Dowdell bulled his way in breaking three tackles and using a stiff-arm to ward off a defender on his way to a 27 yard touchdown run. Craft made it 21-0 with his extra point with 3:16 on the clock.

The Maroon Tide defense forced a three and out, and Picayune took after the Bulldog punt at its 22. On first down, Robertson complete an 11 yard pass to Darrell Smith. On next play, he connected with Jessiah Contee for 19 yards, and then hit Warren with a perfect touch pass for 48 yards to the 2 yard line. Dowdell punched it in from 4 yards. Craft’s extra point made 28-0 with :52 left.

Picayune added a touchdown early in the third quarter when Robert Williams jarred the ball loose and Jamonta Waller scooped it up and ran it in from 15 yards out.

Dowdell added a 98 yard touchdown run and Triston Cooper scampered in from 37 yards out to close out the scoring.

Dowdell finished with 237 yards on 12 carries. Robertson completed all five of his passes for 138 yards.

Picayune will host East Central on Friday.