Picayune Outlasts PRC Blue Devils 38-18 (Scoring Summary)
by Carey Meitzler
The Picayune Maroon Tide defeated the Pearl River Central Blue Devils, or perhaps some may say they just outlasted them, to
capture their first win of the season 38-18 in the Division 8-4A opener for both teams before 4,000 plus fans at Kenneth L.
Hendrix Stadium in Carriere. The Tide took control early, had to hold off PRC rallies twice, and finally put it away with two
unanswered scores in the fourth quarter.
Picayune stopped PRC on their first possession and forced them to punt. Picayune took over at their own 38 yard line and wasted
little time in putting points on the scoreboard. Senior tailback Corderis Brown ran for 13 yards on first down and senior fullback
Tyler Lee followed with a tote of 5 yards to the PRC 45. On the next play, Brown dodged and weaved his way in for the score
with 9:12 showing on the clock. Erveng Gonzalez's PAT made it 7-0.
The Blue Devils next possession saw them convert a first down and move the ball to the Tide 42, but junior cornerback Justin
Griffith intercepted a pass at his 30 and returned it to the PRC 35. Four plays later on fourth down and six to go, senior quarterback
Alex Riser handed the ball to Brown who ran to his left and quickly gave the ball to junior wingback Courtney McDougle who was
headed to his right. McDougle darted into the secondary, broke two tackles, and scored from 32 yards out with 5:22 left in the
quarter. Gonzalez was once again good on the conversion for a 14-0 advantage.
After an interception by junior safety Chance "Scoop" Griffith on the next PRC possession, the Tide gave it right back on a fumble.
Picayune held and forced PRC to punt from near midfield. PRC's Adam Herrin lofted a very effective punt that was downed at
the Tide 5 yard line. The Tide would convert a first down, but fumbled it back to the Blue Devils at the Tide 21 early in the second
quarter.
On first down, senior defensive end Zach Robbins tackled PRC's Warren House for a two yard loss. After an incomplete pass on
second down, senior linebacker Brent "Dent" Acker sacked Derek Tortorich for a seven yard loss back to the 28. PRC went for
it on fourth down, but came up short as Acker tackled PRC's Marvis Burkett at the Tide 11.
Picayune was unable to convert a first down and punted it away. PRC returned the punt to the Tide 34 yard line with 5:27 left
in the half. PRC scored on the fourth play of the drive when Warren House went in from 2 yards out. PRC cut the lead to 14-8
when House scored on the swinging gate gadget play for the 2 pt conversion with 3:53 left on the clock.
On the ensuing kickoff, PRC's Herrin caught the Tide off guard with an onside kick that was recovered at the Tide 48, but the Blue
Devils were offside and had to re-kick after the 5 yard penalty. The next kick went out of bounds and the Tide started the drive
at their own 40. The Tide marched down the field and settled for a 23 yard field goal from Gonzalez to push the lead to 17-8
with :12 left in the half. During the drive, Corderis Brown left the game with a knee injury and did not return.
On the first play from scrimmage to open the third quarter, sophomore tailback Albert Richard took a pitch on the toss sweep to
the left side and out ran everyone on his way to a 55 yard touchdown run. Gonzalez once again knock through the PAT and the
lead was 24-8 with 11:41 showing on the clock.
PRC came back on their next possession driving from their own 32 to the Tide 20 yard line. Adam Herrin kicked a 37 yard field goal
to cut the lead to 24-11 with 9:46 left in the third quarter.
Picayune fumbled on their next possession at their own 48. PRC scored 5 plays later on a 14 yard pass from Tortorich to P.J. Nixon.
Herrin kicked the PAT to make it 24-18 with 6:18 remaining in the quarter.
Picayune was unable to convert a first down and punted it back to PRC and the Blue Devils set up shop at their own 26. After
converting a first down, PRC had the ball at their own 47. After an incomplete pass on first down, senior strong safety Erich Bochman
sacked Tortorich for a five yard loss. On third and 15 from their own 48, PRC called a screen pass and Tortorich completed it to
Nixon, who appeared to have plenty of room to run, but Zach Robbins stayed at home and dropped Nixon for a 3 yard loss and
PRC had to punt the ball back to Picayune.
Picayune got it at their own 28 yard line and put together a 7 play 72 yard drive that was full of big time plays. On third and
9 at the Tide 29, Justin Griffith ran an out route and made a great one handed, diving catch at the 40 for a first down on a pass
from Riser. Later in the drive, senior tailback Justin Berry rumbled 23 yards to move the ball to the PRC 27. After a five yard offside
penalty against the Tide, Berry busted loose and scampered 32 yards for the touchdown with 8:39 left in the game. Gonzalez's PAT
put the Tide up 31-18.
On the first play after the kickoff, junior linebacker Levi Slaydon took hold of the PRC running back who was leveled by junior
defensive tackle Glenn Agnelly. The ball popped loose and Zach Robbins pounced on the Blue Devil fumble at the PRC 42.
On the Tide's first play, Richard ran it to 18 yard line with a 24 yard burst. Berry would score his second touchdown of the
quarter on third and goal from the 10 yard line sweeping left with 3:56 to play. Gonzalez' kicked another near perfect PAT
to make the final score 38-18.
For PRC, Tortorich completed 12 of 21 attempts for 141 yards. House finished with 87 yards on 18 carries.
Picayune amassed 384 yards rushing on 45 attempts.
Brown finished with 11 rushes for 105 yards before leaving the game in the second quarter. Berry accumulated 114 yards
on 10 totes. Albert Richard finished with 88 yards on 9 carries. Courtney McDougle had 45 yards on 4 rushing attempts.
Tyler Lee ran 6 times for 20 yards and Dale Meitzler had 3 rushes for 12 yards.
The offensive line consisting of senior tackle Clydell Jones, junior tackle James Brady, senior guards Gordon Cruse and
Bryce May, and junior center Tommy Dillard turned in a gritty performance in opening up holes for the Tide backs.
L-R: Clydell Jones (50), James Brady (77), Gordon Cruse (54), Bryce May (51), Tommy Dillard (59)
Head Coach Lee had these comments after the game.
"We gave a great effort. I wasn't worried about the effort, with the kind of kids we've got, coming off three losses, I've had times I
would have really been worried, but I knew we were going to have a great effort and have a good chance to win."
Lee added, "They (PRC) have outstanding skill people and they make you look bad sometimes, but our kids made some good plays.
We can play better than we played on defense tonight and we can keep adding things on offensively to make us better and that's the
attitude we're going to take; a teaching, learning attitude and we will keep getting better and if we can do that, I'll be real happy."
Picayune (1-3, 1-0) will celebrate homecoming as they will host Pass Christian at Tide Stadium. PRC (1-2, 0-1) will be at home
versus Long Beach.