Barry Harper

We played a solid game for our first playoff victory against Ocean Springs this past Friday night. We struck early and often cruising to a 28-0 lead and were never really threatened the entire game. Ocean Springs tallied a late garbage touchdown making the final Picayune 44 Ocean Springs 13. I had predicted Picayune 31 and OS 0. I was right on the spread, just a little off on the exact scores.

I have to admit that I had a hard time getting up for the Ocean Springs game. Everyone on the coast felt like we should handle them pretty easy and we did. Ocean Springs was not the only team in division 4 5-A to go down in defeat. The other three teams: St. Martin, Pascagoula, and Gulfport also were losers in the first round. What has happened to high school football on the gulf coast? Remember the Biloxi powerhouses of the 1960's ? What about the Gulfport East teams of the 1970's? Or better yet the Moss Point Tigers who won 5 state championships in the 80's and 90's. They did not even make the playoffs this year. I don't know what is going on down there, but it's not football. However, this division is not the only 5A Region in the state not to win a first round playoff game. Up north in Region 2-5A, that bunch also came up with a big goose egg (not to be confused with Picayune Goose Egg defense) in the first round. Warren Central, Vicksburg, Grenada, and Madison Central are all gone from the playoffs.  In the south, all of the Region 3-5A playoff teams will be fighting for that South State Championship, and in the north, it will be the four teams from Region 1-5A fighting for that top spot.  Look for some serious upsets in 5A football in the next couple of weeks.

Speaking of upsets, how hard is it for one good team to beat another good team twice in the same season. Well, we are fixing to find out. I was very impressed with Northwest Rankin's squad earlier this year. I am equally impressed with Picayune's team. If the tide plays with same intensity they have showed all season, we should be playing in the South State Championship game. Who will we be playing, good question? Remember look for some serious upsets.
The way I see it,   Picayune 27  N.W. Rankin 17

Carey Meitzler

The Tide looked impressive and played a solid game last week in the win over Ocean Springs (44-13). The first few drives for the Tide were near perfect from my vantage point in the booth. The Tide defense was sharp as well against the ‘Hounds.  Chris Stewart was smooth on offense (2 TDs by land; 2 TDs by air) and Brandon Walls was everywhere (forced fumble, blocked punt, interception).  Ironically, both are senior leaders on this team and two of the reasons this bunch of Tidesmen have advanced this far. Leadership is so important.

Round 2. Ding Ding Ding Ding…Ring the bell and come out fighting.  No disrespect to the Ocean Springs Greyhounds or to the rest of Region 4-5A, but this week it's back to football in the toughest Region/Division/District in the state of Mississippi.

Northwest Rankin, a school traditionally known for baseball, got their first football playoff win since 1981 last week against Pascagoula.  Their star running back (Bibbs) and coach (David Coates) were recognized by The Clarion Ledger newspaper earlier this week.  Their entire community is sky high for this one (Friday night vs Picayune) based on some reports I have been getting from my sources up there.  After losing 3 of their last 4 games (Hattiesburg, Picayune, & Meridian), they seemed to have rejuvenated themselves and can't wait for the rematch at Cougar Field.  The crowd should be around 5,000 folks at Cougar Stadium.  An electric atmosphere awaits those who partake of this one.

The old age discussion of having to beat someone twice is in full swing this week.  First, is there really something to this mystique or just another thing to talk about over a cup of Community or Folgers?  Let's look at recent history for some real data on that “twice” thing.  In 2001, didn't Picayune beat Laurel twice “Between the Bricks” ?  Didn't George County beat us twice last year?  Meridian beat St Martin twice this year.  Okay, no more “beating somebody twice” talk from me again. A game is a game is a game (or something like that).

The Northwest Rankin Cougars. We all saw this bunch a couple of weeks back (Tide won 24-17 on Halloween) and know how talented they are on both sides of the football. Their kicking game is the best I have observed this year with Brent Sutherland (punter) and Ragan Walters (place-kicker). They have it figured out. Both are solid.

Offensively, Jeremy Bibbs (6-2, 212, Jr) is a load and their fullback Branden Franklin (5-8, 190, Jr) showed what a solid player he was on Halloween night. The QB Tyler Moore (6-1, 195, Jr) is a “gamer”. He can run it, throw it, and carries out his fakes real well.  His receivers corps of Stuart Davidson (6-1, 179, Jr) and Jake Milner (5-7, 186, Sr) are good ones, especially Davidson.  Davidson impressed me with his speed in the first meeting and his overall toughness. Overall, the Cougars just keep coming at you. My two biggest concerns with their offense are:

                   # 1: Letting them get some momentum with Bibbs pounding at us time after time. He is brutal at times.

                   # 2: The faking and play-action passing ability of Moore. He is a poised young man playing with a lot of confidence.

Also, I still have visions of the play where Moore hands to the fullback from behind the fullback after faking it to him earlier (like a delayed statue of liberty forward handoff). They got two big runs on us last time on that whatchamacallit.   They will throw the ball (hopefully more they want to) and look for the deep outs to Davidson, the quick slant over the middle, and the screens to Bibbs. I feel our pass coverage will be tested, but will come through.

On special teams, Sutherland punts it just about where he wants to every time, so there may not be any opportunities for long returns. We have to watch out for the "pooch" kick again and we can't forget the 47 yard field goal Walters kicked last time just before half time. He had a 57 yarder earlier this year. Again, their kicking game is solid.

On defense, they played us tough and their defensive backs, especially Harris Hemphill (6-1, 177, Jr) are head-hunters. Their defense swarms to the ball extremely well. As good as they are, the Tide moved the ball quite well and in reality stopped themselves.  The Tide only punted twice the entire game. We fumbled at their 19 in the first quarter and their 9 in the fourth quarter. Chris Stewart actually scored twice (same possession of downs) near the end of the game, but the officials ruled otherwise.  Three times in the dreaded red zone with no points. We have to score every time in the red zone this time around.

Last time, Justin Magee had a career game (31 rushes, 305 yards on his way to 3 trips into the land of milk and honey). Odds are that will not happen again, but the Tide should be able to move the ball and score some points. 

So what does all of this mean? It all comes down to who is focused, doesn't panic when things go a little south, and most importantly who controls the tempo of the game. Turnovers will be big in this one (they are always big).

I look for the Tide to score a defensive touchdown in this one (just a hunch) and the offense to score at least two and maybe more. On offense, NW Rankin has a lot weapons lead by Bibbs and Walters, so a shutout is unlikely.  If the Tide shuts ‘em out, I'll feed the Goose Egg Gang on Tuesday night.  It will be a great game in a great atmosphere.  The weather is supposed to be great (clear skies, temp around 53 degrees).  Northwest Rankin is a great football team that will be playing in front of a large home crowd, however, Dodd Lee and his team will find a way to get it done.  Picayune 23  NW Rankin 10

Footnote: Once again, I am reminding all of us that this game, just like all the others, is just a game in the grand scheme of things.  Please pray for our troops, their families, and our leaders of this great country.  The reality of life and death is what these people deal with everyday and in some cases they have made the ultimate sacrifice.  May God Bless Them All.