November 13, 2009

Picayune gets by D'Iberville 28-14

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--Scotty Merrill ran for 250 yards and 4 touchdowns to propel Picayune to a 28-14 win over the D'Iberville

Warriors in a first round Class 5A playoff game at Picayune's Tide Stadium.

The Warriors drew first blood intercepting a Picayune pass on the first play of the game at the Warrior 49.  D'Iberville

converted two first downs, but the Tide held at their 24 yard line forcing a field goal attempt.   The snap was low forcing

holder Tyler Schankin to scrambled looking for a receiver and he found Jason Jarrett who scored to make it 6-0 with

7:26 left in the first quarter.  The point after was wide left.

Picayune scored on their next possession driving 57 yards in 5 plays.  The big play in the drive was a 31 yard burst by Joel

"Dually" Davis that put the Tide at the Warrior 5.  Merrill soared over the pile for the touchdown on the next play and

Pacer Frierson's point after made it 7-6 with 4:43 left.

All photos by John Young

Joel 'Dually' Davis rumbles for 31 yards to the Warrior 3 yard line.

The Tide defense forced a Warrior punt and Picayune's Troy Egana blocked the punt and Ricky Hawkins scooped it

up at the Warrior 25 and returned it to the 3 yard line.  Merrill slashed in on the first play after Hawkin's return for the

touchdown. Frierson's point after with 1:49 left made it 14-7.

Ricky Hawkins (42) returns the blocked punt.

Later in the first quarter, D'Iberville recovered a Tide fumble on the Picayune 34.  Greyson Chambliss threw a

39 yard touchdown pass to tight end Jeremy Picard on the second play after the fumble recovery.  Chambliss ran

in for the 2 point conversion to tie the score at 14-14 with :35 left in the first quarter.

On their first possession of the second half, Picayune took over on downs at the Tide 40 after a foiled fake punt

attempt by D'Iberville.  Picayune drove 60 yards in 8 plays with Merrill scoring from 4 yards out and Frierson's

extra point made it 21-14 with 5:29 left.

After the Warriors were forced to punt on their next possession, Picayune took over at the D'Iberville 45 yard line.

Eight plays later, Merrill scored on a 1 yard run with :24 left in the third quarter to close out the scoring.

The Tide defense turned in another stellar effort got solid play from linebackers Egana and Jarrod Jones and defensive

end Chase Tretbar who pressured Chambliss throughout the game. The Tide recorded three sacks and forced seven

hurries.

Picayune (8-3) will travel to Moss Point for the second round next week.

Wayne McMooain returns a first half kickoff.