October 29, 2010

West Jones surges past Maroon Tide 44-21

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune--The top-ranked West Jones Mustangs capitalized on three Picayune turnovers en route to a 44-21

win over the Maroon Tide before an estimated crowd of 4,500.  With the win, the Mustangs claim the

Region 3-5A championship for the second consecutive year.

After Picayune was forced to punt on their first possession of the game, West Jones' senior quarterback Ben

Stephens engineered a 13 play 60 yard drive that was capped on Devontay Barnett's 2 yard run with 5:27 left.

Hunter Estess kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

The Maroon Tide responded with a 80 yard drive on 8 plays with Jamal Hall plunging in from 2 yards with 1:45

left.  Pacer Frierson converted the point after making 7-7.

West Jones then went 70 yards in 13 plays as Stephens connected with D.J. Robinson for a 15 yard touchdown

with 8:59 left in the second quarter.  Estess booted the PAT for a 14-7 lead.

Picayune, like a boxer coming off the ropes, countered with a 72 yard drive in 5 plays with B.J. Jeansonne

scoring from 24 yards out on wing-back reverse with 6:08 left.  Frierson kicked the Pat to make it 14-14.

The "track meet" continued as the Mustangs went 61 plays in 6 plays with Stephens throwing to Xavier Hilton

on a bubble screen pass that Hilton turned into a 7 yard touchdown with 3:56 left.  Estess was again nailed

the PAT for a 21-14 advantage.

The Maroon Tide, starting at their own 20 for third time of the half because of Estess' third touchback, marched

to the Mustang 5 yard line before disaster struck.  On third down, Devontay Barnett step in front of a Ben Hickman

pass intended for Jamal Hall at the 3 and raced untouched down the sideline for a touchdown with :40 left.

Once again Estess split the uprights making it 28-14.

In the second half, the Mustangs forced two turnovers on the Tide's first two possessions to put the game away.

After the Tide forced a West Jones punt, Picayune started at their own 10. Five plays later, Ervin Gavin intercepted

a pass at the Tide 27 and returned it to the Tide 5.  Barnett scored from one yard on the third play with 4:56 left.

Estess' PAT made it 35-14.

On the first play after the kick off, West Jones stripped the ball from Picayune's Joel Davis and took over at the

Tide 38.  Stephens capped off the opportunity with a 8 yard touchdown pass to Robinson wtih 2:15 left and Estess

point after made it 42-14.

Picayune scored on their next drive going 53 yards in 10 plays with Ben Hickman scoring on a 2 yard run with 9:27

left in the game.  Frierson was perfect on the point after making it 42-21.

West Jones concluded the scoring tacking on a safety with 1:34 left in the game.

Jamal Hall rushed for 190 yards on 30 carries.   Stephens connected on 19 of 31 passes for 198 yards.  Hilton,

who came into the game with 51 receptions caught 7 passes for 81 yards.

Next up, Picayune (8-1, 5-1) will travel to Waynesboro to battle the Wayne County War Eagles for second place

in Region 3-5A which gives the winner of the game a first round playoff game at home. Wayne County defeated

Pearl River Central 45-35

West Jones (9-0, 6-0) will back the trek back down I-59 next Friday to play Pearl River Central.