Picayune "Rides" Stewart Past the Greyhounds 44-13
Picayune rode the arm and legs of senior QB Chris Stewart to race past the Ocean Springs Greyhounds
in the first round of the South State 5A Playoffs by a score of 44-13 at Picayune. The Tide will advance
to play Northwest Rankin next week on the road. Northwest Rankin, a 34-0 winner over Pascagoula,
will look to avenge a regular season 24-17 loss to the Maroon Tide on Halloween night in Picayune.
#13 Chris Stewart # 17 Brandon Walls
On the first play from scrimmage, Chris Stewart found Scott Hillery around the midfield stripe and Hillery
out ran a 'Hound defensive back to the end zone for a 87 touchdown play. After scoring on the long pass
reception, Hillery caught his breath and converted the PAT for the Tide staking them to a 7-0 lead with
11:36 left in the first quarter.
The Tide forced Ocean Springs to punt the ball on their first possession. After the punt rolled dead at the
Tide 37 yard line, Justin Magee took off on first down for a 37 yard run to move the ball to the 'Hound
26 yard line. Magee would eventually score from 3 yards out to cap the 6 play 63 yard drive. Hillery
kicked the PAT and it was 14-0 with 7:09 showing on the clock in period number one.
After forcing another 'Hound punt, the Tide started at their 16 yard line. Stewart tossed an 18 yard touch-
down pass to fullback Tim Gaff to complete the 6 play 84 yard drive. Hillery was true on the PAT pushing
the score to 21-0 with 2:24 left in the first quarter.
On the second play of the second quarter, Lester Robinson recovered a fumble at the Ocean Springs 33
yard line. Magee gained one yard on first down and then on second down, busted loose right up the middle
of the field for a 32 yard touchdown run making the score 28-0 after Hillery's fourth successful PAT of the
first half. Magee, who finished with 115 yards on 10 carries, played one more series for the Tide before
exiting for the evening.
Ocean Springs got on the board late in the second quarter on a 8 yard pass from John Tosch to Jordan Stennis.
John Sablich's PAT made the score 28-7 with 2:19 to play in the second quarter.
On the 'Hounds first possession of the second half, Brandon Walls knocked the ball loose from Ocean Springs
QB John Tosch near the Tide 40 yard line and Tim Hoffman scooped it up and returned it to the 'Hound 42 yard
line, running over an official on his way. Seven plays later, Chris Stewart ran around right end for a 17 yard touch-
down. Hillery kicked the PAT and it was 35-7 with 7:32 left in the third quarter.
On the next possession, the Tide defense forced the 'Hounds into a punting situation and Brandon Walls blocked
the punt. The ball bounced out the back of the end zone resulting in a safety and the Tide led 37-7 with 5:24 show-
ing on the clock.
Quincy Coleman returned the free kick from the Tide 30 to the Ocean Springs 30 yard line. The Tide drove to the
'Hound 7 yard line and on second and goal from the seven, Chris Stewart's pass was intercepted by Ocean Springs
defensive back Jarel Preston. Before Preston was tackled, the ball was taken from him by the Tide's intended receiver
Mit Cole around the 8 yard line. After an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the 'Hounds, the Tide had the ball
first and goal at the 4 yard line. After Cody Bales carried the ball to the 1 yard line, Chris Stewart took the snap from
Steven Whitfield and followed his senior center into the end zone for the touchdown. Hillery kicked his sixth PAT on
the night to push the score to 44-7 with 11:09 to play in the game.
Ocean Springs added a late score on a 29 yard pass from Travis Williams to Jordan Stennis. The 2 point conversion
attempt was no good and the scoring ended at 44-13.
For the game, Chris Stewart ran the ball 4 times for 29 yards. By way of the pass, Stewart completed 4 of 8 for
168 yards including the 2 TDs. Hillery had 2 receptions for 108 yards. Junior running back Cody Bales came on
in relief of Magee and rushed for 59 yards on 18 attempts. On the night, the Tide offense amassed 400 yards of
total offense (232 rushing, 168 passing).
Defensively, the Tide had three interceptions on the night with Ryan Detillier, Brandon Walls, and Quincy Coleman
each grabbing one.