Maroon Tide Holds Off Bay High 23-20

by Carey Meitzler

After building a 23-6 lead early in the second half, homestanding Picayune held off the Bay High Tigers 23-20 in a key division

8-4A game.  The win puts the Maroon Tide (3-4, 3-1) in the driver's seat for the right to host a first round playoff game.

Picayune scored first on a 2 yard run by sophomore tailback Drew Cole with 1:30 left in the first quarter and Erveng Gonzalez's

PAT made it 7-0. 

Cole's score was short lived as Robert Labat returned the ensuing kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, but the extra point was blocked

and Picayune clinged to a 7-6 lead.  Picayune responded with a 15 play 72 yard drive that resulted in a 5 yard touchdown run by

senior quarterback Alex Riser.  In the drive, Riser and junior wide out Justin Griffith hooked up a 10 yard pass play on third and

ten at the Tiger 45.  Gonzalez's PAT was wide left and Picayune led 13-6.

Late in the second quarter, junior safety Chance Griffith cradled in an interception on a tipped pass at the Tide 45 with 1:14 to play

before half.  On the first play after the interception, senior fullback Tyler Lee scooted 26 yards to the Tiger 31.  After an incomplete

pass, Gonzalez booted a 47 yard field goal on the last play of the half giving Picayune a 16-6 lead heading to the locker room.

Picayune scored on the first possession of the second half when Justin Griffith took in a short out pattern from Riser and raced

59 yards for a score.  Gonzalez's extra point gave the Tide a seemingly comfortable 23-6 lead with 10:23 to play in the third

quarter.

Bay High cut into the lead with a beautifully executed hook and lateral play from their own 40 yard line.  Junior quarterback Tyler

Brush threw a 6 yard completion to senior slot receiver Jason Sims, who lateralled to sophomore tailback Tony Connetti who then

raced 54 yards down the Tiger sideline for the touchdown.  Kyle Moran added the PAT to make it 23-13 with 3:24 left in the

third quarter. 

The Tigers forced Picayune to punt the ball on the next possession after the ensuing kick off.  Bay High scored on the third play

after the Tide punt on a 64 touchdown pass from Brush to Simons.  Moran's extra point made it 23-20 with :07 left in the quarter.

Bay High scored what looked like a go ahead touchdown on a long pass to Labat, but an illegal motion penalty nullified the play.

The Tigers had a chance to tie it with a field goal with 3:25 to play, but the attempt by Bryce Morreale was short.  Picayune ran

the clock out converting a first down on the next set of downs.

Picayune rushed the ball 43 times for 260 yards.  Justin Berry had 87 yards on 10 carries and Cole finished with 65 yards on

21 rushing attempts. Lee had 3 carries for 51 yards. Riser completed 3 of 6 passes for 77 yards with all three passes going to Griffith.

Picayune (3-4, 3-1) closes out the regular season at Poplarville next Friday. 

Bay High (4-1, 3-1) will host Tylertown in a non-division game.