October 9, 2009

Maroon Tide stops Stone County 23-14

by Carey Meitzler

Perkinston—Trailing 7-3 at halftime, the Maroon Tide defense stopped Stone County on four straight possessions allowing

Picayune to rally for a 23-14 win over the Tomcats in Region 3-5A action. The fourth consecutive win kept the Maroon

Tide's Region record unblemished with 3 wins and no defeats.

After a scoreless opening period, Stone scored with 10:27 left in the second quarter on Darion Arrington's 18 yard run.

Joey White converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

Picayune responded on the next possession. Starting at their own 27, the Maroon Tide drove to the Tomcat 25 yard line.

Junior Pacer Frierson booted a 42 yard field goal to make it 7-3 with 5:46 left.

Stone then drove to the Picayune 32, but the Maroon Tide defense stiffened and Stone turned the ball over on downs

after a failed 4th down pass. Picayune drove to the Stone 14, but an interception in the end zone ended the half.

On the first possession of the third quarter, Picayune fumbled on their own 21 yard. Stone was unable to get any points

missing a field goal after the stingy Tide defense did not allow any yardage after the fumble.

After an exchange of punts, Picayune started at their own 37. On second down, junior Jamal Hall busted loose for 47 yards

moving the ball to the Stone 11 yard line. Two plays later,  Hall bulled his way in from 5 yards out and Dalton O'Meara's

extra point made it 10-7 with 4:51 left.

The Tide defense came up big once again when sophomore Dereonte Magee intercepted a pass and returned it to the

Tomcat 25.  Picayune ran 10 plays and erased nearly 6 minutes off the clock with Hall punching it in from 1 yard out for

the touchdown with 9:19 left in the game. The extra point was missed making it 16-7.

Stone's next possession ended on a failed fake punt and Picayune got the ball at the Tomcat 49, but had to punt it

away to the Stone 26. On the second play of the possession, Stone's Clint Hatten found Charmand Magee for

a 63 yard touchdown to cut the lead to 16-14 with 4:17 left.

After the Tomcat kickoff, Picayune started at their own 37 and converted a first down on two running plays by Hall

to put the ball at the 47 yard line. Facing a fourth and one yard to go at the Stone 43,  Hall busted loose and scooted

down the right sideline to the Stone 9 yard line. On the next play, senior quarterback Jacob Kennedy faked a handoff

to Hall, broke two tackles and collided with a Stone defender at the goal line and scored with :52 left. Frierson converted

the point after for a 23-14 lead.

Picayune's Jarrod Jones ended Stone's next possession with an interception at the Tide 32 yard line.

Hall had 184 yards on 33 carries. Kennedy completed 7 of 14 passes for 98 yards.

On Friday, Picayune (4-2, 3-0) will entertain the Brookhaven Panthers who defeated Pearl River Central 41-12.

Stone (4-3, 1-2) will travel to take on undefeated West Jones in Soso.