November 9, 2007

Picayune nips Gautier in 2nd OT 34-31

by Carey Meitzler

The Picayune Maroon Tide will advance to the second round of the Class 4A South State playoffs after a heart-stopping 34-31

double overtime win over a very tough Gautier Gators ball club. The Gators record was 3-6, but all of their losses came to

teams that are in the playoffs.

Picayune scored first on a 3 yard run by Reggie Bailey and Leo Gonzalez extra point made it 7-0 with 3:41 to play in the first

quarter. The Maroon Tide had moved the ball to the Gator five yard line before fumbling it away. Picayune got it back when

Brandon Marble and Michael Johnson knock the ball loose and Drew Cole pounced on it at the Gator 10 yard line.

Photo by John Young

Reggie Bailey scores the Tide's first touchdown.

Gautier tied the game on a 15 yard run by quarterback Tramonte Thomas with 8:13 left in the second quarter. The Gators

blocked a Maroon Tide punt setting up their score.

On the first play after the Gautier kick off, Albert Richard raced 72 yards for a score to put Picayune up 14-7 after Gonzalez

point after with 7:51 left in the quarter.

Photo by John Young

Albert Richard (24) takes off a touchdown run of 72 yards as Caleb Hickman blocks a Gator.

The Gators responded with a drive that resulted in 37 yard field goal from Josh Nelson to make it 14-10 with 3:01 left.

With 1:07 showing on the clock, Richard scored again from 46 yards out on the next Maroon Tide possession and Picayune

led 21-10 at the half.

Gautier (3-7) cut the lead to 21-18 with 3:48 left in the third quarter on Kiwi McGillbery's 3 yard touchdown run. Thomas ran

in the two point conversion to bring the Gators to within a field goal.

With 6:04 left in the game, Nelson tied the game with a 32 yard field goal .

In the first overtime, Albert Richard scored the first play from 10 yards out. Gautier responded with Damario Gainer's

3 yard run to make it 28-28.

Gautier settled for a field goal of 26 yards by Nelson. The Gators had scored on second down, but the play was

nullified on a holding penalty.

Picayune ended the game on Gabe Hinojosa's 5 yard touchdown run on third down.

Photo by John Young

Gabe Hinojosa scores to end the game.

Richard rushed for 209 yards on 29 carries. Drew Cole had a stellar performance for Picayune on both offense and

defense. Cole intercepted two passes thwarting Gator drives both times in Maroon Tide territory. He also recovered

a fumble that set up the Tide's first score. Cole rushed for 88 yards on 8 carries.

Picayune (9-1) will host Lawrence County (10-1) who defeated NE Lauderdale 35-7 in their first round game.

Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00pm and the game as always with be on WRJW 1320 AM and via the internet on

iHigh.com/EzStream.