November 3, 2009
Picayune sweeps District IV Championships
by Carey Meitzler
Ocean Springs--Picayune won both the 8th and 9th grade District IV Championships with the 8th graders prevailing 22-14 and
the 9th grade 16-14 at Greyhound Stadium's Hugh Pepper Field in Ocean Springs on Monday night.
8th: Picayune 22 Ocean Springs 14
Preston Dedeaux rambled for 159 on 13 carries and scored two touchdowns as the Maroon Tide held off the Greyhounds.
Dedeaux scored from 2 yards out on the Tide's first possession with 2:53 left in the first quarter for a 6-0 lead.
After Coren Nixon recovered a fumble at the 'Hounds 7 yard line, Dedeaux ran in from 7 yards out for the touchdown and
then added the 2 point conversion on an option play from quarterback Mark Wood who flipped the ball to Dedeaux just
before being tackled. Picayune lead 14-0 with 1:15 left.
Ocean Springs came storming back as they would scored on a 25 yard run by Daven Blakley with :08 left. Nick Allen passed
to Dylan Delancey for the 2 point conversion to make it 14-8 at the half.
Picayune extended their lead on the first possession of the second half when Jordan Dedeaux intercepted a pass at the
'Hound 25 and returned it down the Tide sideline for the touchdown. Preston Dedeaux added the 2 point conversion
for a 22-8 lead with 5:27 left in the third quarter.
Ocean Springs scored on a 30 yard pass from Allen to Delancey with 2:21 left, but the 2 point conversion failed.
Picayune converted a first down on their possession after the kickoff and ran out the clock for the 22-14 win.
Picayune, the West Division winner, finished the season 9-0 while East Division champion Ocean Springs finished 5-3.
9th: Picayune 16 Ocean Springs 14
Picayune rallied to overtake Ocean Springs 16-14 and completed the sweep in the District IV Championships behind 163 yards
on 12 rushes from Nick Marble and a swarming Tide defense.
Marble got the Tide on the board first with a 9 yard run that capped off an 8 play 61 yard drive with 4:14 left in the first quarter.
James Tatum scored the 2 point conversion on a wingback reverse to give Picayune an 8-0 lead.
Ocean Springs drove the ball to the Tide 3 yard line, but fumbled the ball and Picayune recovered. However, the Tide
coughed it up on their first snap and Tyrin Spencer scooped up the loose ball in the end zone for an Ocean Springs touchdown.
Jason Reidle ran for the 2 point conversion to tie the game at 8-8 with :52 left in the first quarter.
The 'Hounds Ishmel Morrow returned the second half kickoff from his 15 to the Tide 24. Five plays later, Reidle scored from
10 yards out. The 2 point conversion failed leaving the score at 14-8 with 4:49 left in the quarter.
Picayune turned the ball over on downs at their 45 on their next possession, however, the Tide defense forced a 'Hound punt
and got the ball back on their 11 yard line as the third quarter expired.
Facing third and 8 yards to go, quarterback Ben Hickman called Marble's number on a toss sweep to the left and Marble
raced 80 yards down the Tide sideline to the Ocean Springs 7. On second and goal from the 4, Doug Cross scored to tie
the game with 5:28 to play. Marble ran in the 2 point conversion giving Picayune a 16-14 lead.
After the kickoff, Ocean Springs started at their 39 yard line. The Tide got great play from defenders Chris Autry, Semaj Branch,
and Decarlos Jenkins that forced the 'Hounds into a fourth and long situation. The fourth down pass was intercepted by Cross at
the Tide 39 yard line.
With under a minute to play in the game and facing fourth and two at their 47 yard line, Picayune elected to forego the punt
and go for the first down. Marble took the pitch from Hickman, this time to his right and cut back to his left and sprinted all the
way to the 'Hounds 6 yard line. Picayune did not have to run another play as the clock ran out.
Picayune finished the season 8-0 and this class remains undefeated for their 7th, 8th, and 9th grade years. Ocean Springs, who
lost earlier in the season to Picayune by a 14-12 margin, finished 5-3.