September 7, 2007

Maroon Tide rallies past Madison Central Jaguars 28-17

by Carey Meitzler

Madison, MS.--The Picayune Maroon Tide raced out to an early 14-0 lead and then overcame 17 unanswered points from

Madison Central to post a 28-17 win.

T'Daryls Grays returned the opening kick off 73 yards for a touchdown.  Matt Dragon added the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

Picayune forced the Jaguars to punt the ball away on their first possession.  Huey Stockstill, Matt Barr, and Justin Flowers teamed

up for tackles for loss for the fired up Tide defense. 

After the punt, Picayune started at their own 44 yard line. On the fifth play of the drive, Albert Richard swept the left end, cut back

across to the right side and out raced everyone into the right corner of the endzone for a 36 yard touchdown.  Dragon was true on

the PAT and with 7:36 left in the first quarter, Picayune led 14-0.  Richard left the game late in the second quarter with a sprained

ankle and did not return.

Madison Central responded by returning the ensuing kick off to Picayune's 36 yard line.  The Jaguars would eventually score on

a 3 yard touchdown pass from Peyton Johnson to Demarco Taylor.  Grey McDonald's PAT made it 14-7 with 5:51 left in the

first quarter.

The Jaguars scored again with 5:06 left in the second quarter.  After a short punt by the Maroon Tide gave the ball to Madison

Central at the Picayune 49 yard line, the Jaguars scored 8 plays later on a 24 yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Xavier

Griffin.  McDonald's PAT tied the game at 14-14.

Madison Central scored on the first possession of the second half moving the ball from their own 29 yard line to the Picayune

21 yard line and settled for a 38 yard field goal by Grey McDonald.  During the drive, the Jaguars scored an apparent touchdown,

but the play was nullified for an illegal block.

Late in the third quarter, Picayune drove from their own 18 yard line to the Jaguar's 25 yard line, but fumbled the ball away.

Madison Central returned the favor just three plays later on the first play of the 4th quarter.  Brandon Jurich jumped on the loose

ball at the Jaguar 15 yard line.

Photo by John Young

Drew Cole paced the Maroon Tide rushing attack.

Picayune got a 3 yard touchdown run from Drew Cole on the sixth play of the possession.  Dragon's PAT made it 21-17 with

8:27 left in the game.

On Madison Central's possession after the ensuing kick off, the Maroon Tide forced a three and out followed by a punt.

Jake Martinez knocked down a pass in the backfield on second down.  Justin Flowers and Matt Barr combined for a 5 yard

loss on third down.

Picayune took over at their own 42 yard line and marched the 68 yards in 11 plays with Grays capping off the drive with a

1 yard run.  Dragon's PAT pushed the score to 28-17 with 1:21 left in the game.

Cole paced the Maroon Tide with 18 rushes for 127 yards.  Richard had 12 rushes for 69 yards before leaving the game.

Picayune (1-1) will host Slidell next week while Madison Central (0-2) will travel to take on McComb.