Barry Harper

What another great game we had this past Friday night. I don't know about you, but I love this division (3-5A). Every Friday night we have a great contest. The Meridian game was no exception. Both teams have adopted the policy of being physical, add in the rain and it was quite a smash-mouth type of game. Believe me, there was not much finesse from either team, fact is, any finesse that either team may have had in their arsenal had to wait because of the elements.

I don't know if any one paid much attention to Meridian 's line-up, but it was full of underclassmen. They played a lot of juniors and sophomores. This team will be hard to reckon with in the next couple of years and if they mature by the end of the year, they could go a long way in the playoffs. Picayune may play them again in the playoffs. Some of fans were saying they would like to play Meridian on a dry field. I don't think so. They really were hampered by the wet conditions especially sophomore running back Cordera Eason. This kid is really special. On his first touchdown, a 15 yard scamper, he broke four tackles. We got a glimpse of a future Clarion Ledger Dandy Dozen player and a future blue chip recruit.

Now this Friday, here we go again. No time to rest, no time to lick our wounds, and no time to bask in the glory. Brandon High is coming to town. Brandon is a school with a lot of tradition. They usually send players each year to the S.E.C. and other Division I schools around the country to continue they football

careers. They graduated a lot of kids last year and currently sport a 3-4. They are coached by Dan Davis, who many say is one of the best coaches in the state.

Brandon played Oak Grove this past Friday and gave the Warriors all they wanted. Oak Grove (7-0 overall, 3-0 Division 3-5A) currently ranked 3rd in the statewide AP poll only led 14-7 at halftime. Oak Grove did win by the score of 28-7, but Brandon was very much in the ball game. Oak Grove ran 65 offensive plays compared to only 41 for Brandon which tells me Brandon 's defense had a hard time getting off the field. Oak Grove rushed for 155 yards in the second half and the Warriors are not known for having a strong running game. So we need to execute like we did Friday night and it could be a big night for Justin Magee and the rest of the backs for the maroon tide.

Just one more item. Way to go Chris Stewart. Your senior leadership really came through Friday. Your touchdown run was a thing of beauty, and the one they blew the whistle dead would have been sweeter.  The way I see it.....Picayune 21   Brandon 0

Carey Meitzler

My apologies to the listeners near the end of the game. All I can say is that I am just so "excited" about this bunch of young men that I struggle to control my emotions.  For all of you who need speakers repaired from my decibel spiking in the overtime stanza, send me the bill. I will gladly pay it.  By the way, my good friend Derwin Bales does the best impersonation of me "going nuts" over the Tide's exploits according to my oldest son, Dale.  I saw and heard a rendition on Saturday morning and was amused, but Dale says the version around 10:30pm on Friday evening was as they say on the Visa commercial "priceless".  I will try to improve this week and to shorten my good friend's comic career.  Seriously, I got a kick out of Derwin replaying the moment for me.  Derwin is a great person; I am truly blessed to know him.  He was one of the best ever to wear Maroon and Gray, and if it had not been for a bad knee, who knows where he might have ended up after a stellar stint at Pearl River Junior College (before Community was the word). Now, let's leave the entertainment section and the history lesson aside and roll forward to this Friday night's great match up.

This week it's the tradition-rich Brandon Bulldogs under Dan Davis. Dan is a real good guy, and why not, his first coaching job was at Picayune Junior High a long time ago.  His peers hold Coach Davis in the highest regard. I spoke to him last year during playoff time for an interview and I must concur to his kindness.  Now for this week, he and his Bulldogs will be putting all the "kindness" aside as they are a little perturbed with their current situation.  Brandon is not accustomed to losing two division games in a row, regardless of the competition (NW Rankin 17-7, Oak Grove 28-7).  In both games, they played great first halves only to be worned down in the second half. 

They are well disciplined, but young and not as deep as in the past.  Their tailback, Lawrence Weakley (5-9, 165, SR) is the guy they like to give the ball to as often as possible.  Jeremy Horton (5-10, 162, JR) will get most of the remaining totes for the Dogs.  QB Gary Schaffhauser's (6-0, 145, JR) favorite target is Ken Love (6-1, 170, SR) who has great speed. Brandon will come in to Tide Stadium and pull out all the stops.  I'm sure they will have a few gadget plays on offense to try and exploit the stingy Tide defense.  Keep a close eye on their special teams, especially their kick-off team.  They have a history of bizarre on-side kick attempts.  Nothing they try will surprise me in this one.

The Tide got a big test last week and passed (coincidently, it was Exam week in the classroom, too).  The catch and run by WR Quincy Coleman from QB Chris Stewart was special.  And so was Stewart's streak down the sideline in front of the Tide bench.  Chris's father, Chuck, was fast in his day.  I guess that apple didn't fall far from the tree. I don't think Meridian's defensive backs knew Stewart's ancestry because it appeared they kept waiting on him and he went "Beep Beep" and left 'em.  If you have never seen Chris run from home to third on a "gapper" in baseball, you need to see that too. As my friend Nicky Guidry once said about Chris, "he can scoot".  Chris is a weapon throwing and running.  Scott Hillery was solid with his PAT to tie it and the field goal to end it.

The Tide did what they had to do to get the "W".  Coach Lee said afterwards "we found some warriors out there tonight".  Stephen Hall and Jimmy Jones made tackle after tackle in the slush and slosh.  Byrd and Walls did their share of banging heads as well making the going for Meridian against the Tide pretty tough all night. Truth is, Meridian got a gift touchdown (after the punt return to the Tide 2) and a short field in front of them (the interception at the Tide 45) that led to their scores.  Overall, the defense was outstanding. The Tide will have to step it up another notch as Brandon is going to try and spread the Tide out more than anyone this season.  Look for Brandon trying to get Weakley on the corners often on both passes and runs.

On offense, the Tide should be able to move the ball against the Dogs, but must stay away from those dreaded turnovers.    This one will be tougher than Meridian (yes I said tougher) because there is nothing worse than a wounded Dog backed in corner. At 1-2 in Division 3-5A play, Brandon will leave it all on the field against the Tide. This one will be close until the Tide scores a late TD to put it away.  I like the sound of.....Picayune 31  Brandon 17