Opportunistic Long Beach Defeats Picayune 20-7

by Carey Meitzler

The pregame analysis concluded that both Picayune and Long Beach would line up and run the ball right at each other.  They did

just that, but the difference in the game was the Bearcats from Long Beach took advantage of two Tide miscues, turning both into

touchdowns and took a 20-7 win over the Maroon Tide at Lumpkin-Magee Stadium in Long Beach.

Long Beach's opening drive stalled out at the Picayune 42 and brought on a punt that gave the ball to the Maroon Tide at their

own 13 yard line.  Behind the running of tailback Justin Berry, Picayune drove to the Long Beach 14 yard line.  A third down

sack moved the ball back to the 23 and Picayune was turned away with no points when Erveng Gonzalez's 39 yard field goal

just missed the left upright.

Long Beach fumbled the snap on a fourth down attempt at the Picayune 27 yard line on their next possession. Picayune took over,

but was unable to convert a first down.  On fourth down, punter Gonzalez went to a knee to retrieve the snap and the Bearcats got

the ball at the Tide 13 yard line.  The Tide defense surrendered a first down to the 3 yard line.  The Tide defense stopped Long

Beach inside the one yard line twice, but on fourth and less than one yard to go, Ira Smith plunged in for the touchdown. 

Chip Vonderbruegge's PAT made it 7-0 with 5:09 left in the second quarter.

Picayune's next possession was short lived when Bearcat defensive tackle Cruz Johnson picked up a Tide fumble and rumbled 35

yards for a touchdown. Chip Vonderbruegge kicked the extra point for a 14-0 lead with 3:31 on the clock.

Long Beach held the Tide again forcing a punt. As Gonzalez's punt was bouncing around the Long Beach 30 yard line, a Bearcat

player grab the ball as if he were on the punting team trying to down the ball and was immediately hit forcing a fumble that was

recovered by Picayune's Brent Acker giving the offense a short field to work with 1:22 to play before halftime.

After an incomplete pass on first down, Alex Riser connected with Justin Berry for a 25 yard pass the put the Tide at the 5 yard

line. Two plays later, Berry would scoot into the left corner of the end zone for the touchdown with :24 left on the clock. 

Gonzalez booted the PAT to make it 14-7.

Neither team could muster much offense in the third quarter until the Tide put together a drive moving the ball from their own 33

to deep in Long Beach territory.  On the first play of the fourth quarter, Berry was stopped short on a fourth down rushing attempt

at the Long Beach 28.

After an exchange of punts, Long Beach took over at their own 19 yard line with 8:52 to play. The Bearcats drove to the Tide

18 yard line facing fourth and 8 yards to go.  They used a timeout and it appeared they would attempt a field goal.  After the

timeout, the Bearcats went for it and Jeremy Hill lofted an 18 yard touchdown pass to a wide open Tramaine Brock.  The versatile

Brock,normally lined up at tailback or wingback, broke free on his route from the tight end position and cradled the ball in for the

score.  The extra point attempt was blocked, but Long Beach led 20-7 with 3:04 left in the game.

Picayune returned the ensuing kickoff to the Long Beach 48, converted a first down, but turned the ball over on downs enabling

the Bearcats to run out the clock with two snaps of the football.

Picayune was led by Justin Berry with 117 yards on 20 rushes.  Riser finished 2 of 10 for 35 yards.

For the Bearcats, Ira Smith carried 25 times for 142 yards. Joe Lacour, who ran from the fullback position, had 42 yards on

9 carries.  Long Beach only passed twice the entire game completing one for the 18 yard touchdown to Brock.

Picayune, now 2-4 overall and 2-1 in district, hosts Bay High next week.  Long Beach (4-1, 3-1) has an open date.