October 2, 2009

Picayune slips past Forest Hill 14-12

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune-- Picayune jumped to a 14-0 lead and hung on for a 14-12 victory over the Forest Hill Patriots in a Region 3-5A

play on Homecoming night for the Maroon Tide.

After exchanging punts with the Patriots, Picayune took advantage of the yardage gained on the punts starting at the 50 yard

line.  On first down, junior Jamal Hall followed key blocks from tackle Brandon Lee and fullback Joel Davis and rumbled to

the Patriot 16.  On the next play, Hall scooted in for the touchdown with 3:17 left in the first quarter.  Dalton O'Meara added the

point after for a 7-0 lead.

Picayune got the ball back when senior Jarrod Jones knocked the ball loose from a Patriot runner and Joel Davis pounced on

the loose ball at the Forest Hill 45.  Four plays later, senior quarterback Jacob Kennedy faked a handoff to Hall and keep

the ball running untouched around left end for a 36 yard touchdown.  O'Meara's extra point made the score 14-0 with 8:46

left in the second quarter.

Forest Hill cut into the lead with a touchdown just before halftime.  After recovering a Picayune fumble at their own 48, the

Patriots drove 52 yards in 8 plays scoring on a 30 yard touchdown pass from junior Isiah James to Devon Davis with 1:12

left.  The point after was unsuccessful due to a bad snap.

Forest Hill took the second half kickoff and drove 73 yards in 12 plays taking six minutes and two seconds off the clock.

The touchdown came on a 1 yard run by Jabari Baker.  The 2 point attempt was no good.

Picayune's defense turned back the Patriots the rest of the game forcing two punts and another Davis fumble recovery that

was caused by Troy Egana.

Hall finished with 137 yards on 27 carries to lead the Maroon Tide.

Picayune (3-2, 2-0) will travel to Perkinston to take on Stone County next Friday at A.L. May Stadium on the campus of

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.   Forest Hill (4-2, 1-1) will host West Jones.

All photos by John Young

Jamal Hall busts loose for 34 yards in the first quarter.

Matt Archer (29) returns a kickoff.

Dalton O'Meara (14) kicks the Maroon Tide's first point after out of the hold by Eric Smith (18).