Moss Point Takes Opener 16-6 over Maroon Tide

by Carey Meitzler

The Picayune Maroon Tide missed golden opportunities to put points on the board against the Moss Point Tigers in the

early part of the game and it proved costly for the Tide as they were defeated 16-6 in the season opener for both teams.

With less than one minute to play in the first quarter, Picayune appeared to be in position to score, but fumbled at the

Moss Point 6 yard line. The Tide defense forced the Tigers to punt the ball back after three plays and the Tide was in

business at the Moss Point 32 yard line. Picayune would move the ball to the Tiger 10 yard line where they missed a

27 yard field goal.

Moss Point took over at their 20 yard line after the missed field goal and drove 54 yards in 12 plays before stalling out

at the Tide 26. Brad Bingham drilled a 43 yard field goal to put Moss Point up 3-0 with 2:06 left before halftime.

Picayune returned the ensuing kickoff to their own 30 yard line. The Tide would convert a first down, but then was

forced to punt after three incomplete passes.

With :55 left in the second quarter, Moss Point started their drive at their own 29. Sophomore quarterback Kevin Barkley

completed a 23 yard pass to Meco Brown to move it the Tide 48. He then threw his next two passes to Akeem Simmons,

the first for 17 yards and the second for 23 yards to put the ball at the Tide 9 yard line. On the next play, Barkley rolled left

and lofted a perfect touch pass to Donald Ray Gibson for the touchdown. Bingham added the point after touchdown to make

it 10-0 with :07 left in the second quarter.

Late in the third quarter, Moss Point 's C.J. Bailey intercepted a Micah Hickman pass at the Tiger 30 and returned it to the

Tide 38 yard line.  Five plays later, Barkley found Akeem Simmons near the left corner of the end zone for a 5 yard touchdown

pass with 1:58 left in the quarter.

On Picayune's next possession, the Tigers stopped Picayune on downs at the Tiger 31. On third down, senior defensive tackle

forced a Moss Point fumble and Justin Berry scooped up the ball and raced 35 yards for a Picayune touchdown. The 2 point

conversion failed and Moss Point led 16-6 with 6:43 to play in the contest.

Photos courtesy of John Young

Gordon Cruse (54), Kenny Baker (23), and Brent Acker (21) converge to cause a fumble that lead to the Tide's TD.

Justin Berry on his way to a touchdown after picking up the Tiger fumble.

Moss Point was able to convert three first downs on their next possession and ran the clock out to sealed the win.

Barkley completed 12 of 20 passes for 157 yards with two touchdowns. Moss Point was held to 67 yards

rushing on 22 attempts.

Picayune rushed 36 times for 135 yards. Junior QB Micah Hickman, making his first varsity for the Tide, was

2 of 9 for 36 yards, with both completions going to fellow junior Justin Griffith.  Senior Corderis Brown ran

18 times for 61 yards and senior Justin Berry ran 9 times for 46 yards. Junior Courtney McDougle finished with

17 yards on 4 carries.

Next week, Picayune (0-1) will travel to play Harrison Central in Lyman, while Moss Point (1-0) will be at home

taking on South Panola .