October 3, 2008
Picayune cruises by Poplarville 59-14
by Carey Meitzler
Poplarville--The Picayune Maroon Tide continued to click on all cylinders and cruised past Poplarville 59-14 with an onslaught
of explosive offense and stingy defense at Poplarville. The win pushes the Tide to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Region 8-4A on the
season.
Picayune took the opening kickoff and marched 69 yards in 15 play erasing 6 minutes and 31 seconds from the clock. Junior
Jarrod Jones had his number called 12 times in the drive, the last on a 12 yard touchdown run right up the middle of the Hornet
defense. A bad snap negated a point after attempt and Picayune led 6-0 with 4:29 left.
Poplarville's first drive was over in a blink when Chris "Willie" Nixon sacked the Hornet's Dakota Sheppard on third down. The
Hornets punted the ball to the Tide at the Picayune 39 yard line.
Sophomore Jamal "Bus No. 2" Hall took off for a 61 yard touchdown run. Junior Jacob Kennedy passed to senior Reginald Bailey
for the 2 point conversion to put Picayune up 14-0 with 2:02 left.
All photos by John Young
Jamal "Bus No. 2" Hall motors down the sideline for a 61 yard touchdown.
Picayune was awarded a safey on the Hornet's next possession when a snap sailed over Sheppard's head and he
recovered the ball in his own end zone with 1:30 left that made it 16-0.
All photos by John Young
Reginald Bailey goes airborne trying to pull in a pass.
After exchanging punts with the Hornets, Hall scored again, this time from 6 yards out and Nick Riso's extra point made the score
23-0 with 7:59 left in the second quarter.
With just two minutes left before half time, Kennedy and crew took over on downs at the Tide 16. On first down, he connected with
junior Jonathan Moore for 32 yards and then passed to Hall for 7 yards putting the ball at the Hornet 46. After two incompletions,
Hall took a hand off ran for 20 yards to the 26 yard line and got out of bounds to stop the clock with 9 seconds left. Kennedy
then lofted a perfect fade route to Chris Nixon in the right corner of the end zone and Nixon soared above the Hornet defender to
catch the ball for the touchdown with :02 showing on the clock. Riso's point after made it 30-0.
All photos by John Young
Chris Nixon goes airborne to bring in a 26 yard touchdown pass from Jacob Kennedy.
Poplarville opened the third quarter with an 11 play drive moving the ball to the Tide 27 before a fourth down pass fell incomplete.
On first down, Jarrod Jones took off on a 73 yard scamper to push the lead 36-0 with 5:48 left in the third quarter. The Tide was
penalized after the score and the point after attempt was missed from thirty five yards out.
All photos by John Young
Jarrod Jones dives into the end zone to complete his 73 yard touchdown run.
Poplarville surrendered another safety when the snap went over the head of the punter and out of the end zone with 3:41 left.
After the free kick, Picayune started at the Hornet 46. On second down, Kennedy connected with Moore for a 46 yard touchdown
catch and run pushing the score to 45-0 with Riso's point after and the clock showing 3:05 left in the third quarter.
All photos by John Young
Jacob Kennedy runs for yardage in the second quarter.
With the Tide substituting freely on defense, Poplarville scored two touchdowns. Tyler Holston and G.W. Miller each scored from
2 yards out, the later coming with 8:49 left in the game.
Junior Wayne McMooain grabbed the ensuing kick off after Miller's score and weaved his way up the middle of field, broke
two tackles, veered to the right sideline, broke another tackle, and tightroped the Hornet sideline the last 30 yards enrouted
to a 91 return for the touchdown to push the margin to 52-14 after Riso's point after with 8:20 left.
Sophomore Robert Jeansonne closed out the scoring with a very impressive 22 yard touchdown run around left end with
under a minute left in the game.
Jones finished with 128 yards on 13 carries and Hall added 6 rushes for 94 yards. Kennedy was 5 of 11 for 111 yards.
Picayune will be at home next week hosting St. Stanislaus for a 7:00pm kick off.
All photos by John Young
Reginald Bailey picks up 9 yards on the Tide's first drive.