October 30, 2009

West Jones slips by Maroon Tide 21-20 in Overtime

by Carey Meitzler

Soso--Top ranked West Jones ralllied to tie the game with :45 left in regulation and went on to defeat Picayune 21-20 in overtime

 at a wet, soggy Mustang Field in Soso.  The win gives the Mustangs the Region 3-5A title moving their record to 9-0 overall

and 6-0 in Region play.

After a scoreless first quarter, Picayune marched 89 yards in 14 plays milking seven minutes off the clock and scored on wingback

Maurice Jones'  7 yard run with 1:48 left in the first half.  The point after was wide right leaving the score at 6-0.

West Jones received the second half kickoff and marched 63 yards on 6 plays with the touchdown coming on a 4 yard run by

tailback Devontay Barnett with 9:17 left in the third quarter.  Hunter Estes extra point gave the Mustangs a 7-6 lead.

Picayune responded on their very next possession.  Picayune's Malcolm Faciance returned the kickoff to the Tide 47.  On fourth

down from just outside the Mustang 43 yard line, Jamal Hall busted through the line and outraced everyone for the touchdown

on the rain-soaked field with 7:18 left in the quarter.  Picayune converted the 2 point conversion as Jones bullied his way into the

right corner of the end zone after breaking two tackles. 

Trailing 14-7 with 4:06 left in the game, West Jones started at their 20 yard line after a missed Picayune field goal attempt.

West Jones' Ben Stevens turned to the passing game completing 7 of 12 passes in a drive.   Stevens converted a fourth and

seven from his own 23 with 3:01 left.  With 1:48 left, Picayune was flagged for a pass interfence putting the ball at the Tide 40.

Six plays later, facing second and goal at the Maroon Tide 2 yard line, Stevens scored on a keeper around left end with :45 left.  

West Jones was penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration after the touchdown and the ball was placed at the 18 yard line

for the point after attempt.  Estes converted the 35 yard extra point even though Picayune deflected the kick. 

In overtime,  Jamal Hall scored from 10 yards out on first down.  The point after was no good giving the Maroon Tide a 20-14 lead.  

Stevens threw a 10 yard touchdown pass to Barnett on first down and Estes booted the extra point to give West Jones the win.

Stevens completed 17 of 29 passes for 177 yards while Barnett rushed for 41 yards in 15 attempts.

Jamal Hall rushed 32 times for 211 yards to pace the Maroon Tide offense.  Fullback Joel Davis 47 yards on 8 rushes and

provided key lead blocking for Hall.  

Picayune (6-3, 5-1) will host Wayne County to decide the number two seed from Region 3-5A on Friday.