Wayne County holds off Maroon Tide 39-31

by Carey Meitzler

Sometimes games are hyped to the point they end up anti-climatic once they are played.  The much anticipated match up between

top-ranked Wayne County and number 3 ranked Picayune lived up to its billing as Wayne County held off Picayune 39-31 at

Waynesboro.

Picayune marked first when junior Albert Richard busted loose on a 50 yard scamper with 10:29 on the first quarter clock.

Irving Gonzalez's point after put Picayune up 7-0.

Wayne County responded on their first possession with a 5 play 67 yard drive that was capped off on a 28 yard touchdown pass

from Drexler Johnson to Kenneth Whigham.  The point after tied the game at 7-7 with 8:35 left in the quarter.

Picayune scored again on their next possession with Richard going in from 17 yards out to complete a 8 play 63 yard drive.  The

Gonzalez point after made it 14-7 with 3:51 left in the quarter.

After an exchange of punts, Wayne County drove 95 yards in 10 plays with Tracey Lampley scoring on a run around left end

from 32 yards out.  The point after was blocked and Picayune led 14-13 with 6:08 left in the second quarter.

The Maroon Tide scored on their next possession on another Richard touchdown run, this time from 45 yards with 1:34 left in

the quarter.

Wayne County got exceptional field position via a good return of the ensuing kickoff as Lampley returned it to the Tide 44. 

The War Eagles scored with :06 left on Johnson's 3 yard touchdown pass to Marquise Ray.  Calvin McDougle passed to Whigham

for the 2 point conversion to tie the score 21-21 at the half.

The War Eagles scored on the opening drive of the second half on a 52 yard pass from Johnson to Whigham with 10:50 left in the

third quarter.  The point after was no good and Wayne County led 27-21.

On the Tide's next possession, they elected to go for a fourth down and two yards to go from their own 38 yard line.  Wayne County

stopped them, got the ball at the Tide 40 yard line and promptly scored in 9 plays with the touchdown coming on a two yard run by

McDougle with 5:32 left in the third quarter.  The 2 point attempt failed leaving the score at 33-21.

Picayune's next possession ended at the War Eagle 21 yard line resulting in a 37 yard field goal by Gonzalez to make the score 33-24

with :46 left in the third quarter.

Wayne County converted a first down on their next possession before having to punt the ball back to Picayune. But Wayne County's

Mark Gray intercepted a pass and had the ball at the Picayune 35 yard line.  After a run by Lampley moved the ball down to the

Tide 14 yard line, Picayune' s Chance Griffith stole the ball from a War Eagle runner at the Tide 14.

Picayune was unable to convert a first down and gave the ball back to Wayne County at the Tide 17 yard line.  McDougle passed to

Whigham for a 9 yard touchdown to make the score 39-24 with 5:33 left in the game.

On Picayune's first play after the kickoff, Albert Richard ran for a 63 yard touchdown with 5:12 left in the game.  Gonzalez kicked the

extra point to bring the score to 39-31.

Picayune's defense held Wayne County and forced punt.  Picayune had the ball at their own 45 yard line with 3:39 left in the game.

After a holding penalty on first down, Picayune eventually faced 4th down and 17 to go at their 39 yard line.  Senior Micah Hickman

floated a pass to sophomore Chris Nixon who made an outstanding catch that was first ruled complete, but later waved off as an

incomplete pass after the officials had signaled first down.   Picayune's head coach Dodd Lee argued vehemently and was flagged for back

to back unsportsmanlike conducts with another thrown on a school official that resulted in penalties giving Wayne County the ball at the

Tide 25 yard line.

Picayune held the War Eagles on downs and took over at the Tide 30 yard line :34 left in the game.  On first down, Hickman connected

with senior wide receiver Justin Griffith for 51 yard reception to the War Eagle 19 yard line.  After the Tide stopped the clock on first

down, Hickman attempted another pass to Griffith in the endzone that was intercepted by Gray.

Richard finished with 237 yards on 28 carries and four touchdowns.  Richard finishes the season with 33 touchdowns with 32 rushing and

1 interception return. 

Lampley had 133 yards on 22 rushing attempts. Johnson completed 19 of 28 for 217 yards.

Wayne County (13-0) will play at Terry for the South State Championship.  Picayune finished the season with a 11-1 record.