It Was 'Josh' Night As Maroon Tide Teams Sweep Poplarville

by Carey Meitzler

It seemed like "Josh" night in Picayune on Thursday as Josh Hart and Josh Nixon paced their teams to wins over Poplarville.

7th Grade:  Picayune 38  Poplarville 22

The Maroon Tide got on the scoreboard before most of the fans got comfortable in their seats when Wayne McMooain sprinted down the

right sideline for a 72 yard touchdown run and the Tide tacked on the two point conversion for a 8-0 lead. 

Justin Kozercki ran in from 8 yards out and Jacob Kennedy passed to Jaquarian Durr for the two point conversion to make it 16-0

late in the first quarter and that was all the scoring in the first half.

Josh Hart took the second half kickoff, ran to his right, then reversed field back to the left sideline and raced 74 yards for a touchdown.

The conversion attempt was stopped by the Hornets and the Tide led 22-0 with seconds gone in the third quarter.

Josh Hart on his second kick off return..going, going....Gone!

Poplarville scored on their next possession and converted a 2 point conversion to cut the lead to 22-8.  But Hart once again came through

with another electrifying run on the ensuing kickoff.  He bobbled the kick off at his own 25 yard line, started to his left, then cut back to

the right sideline and raced untouched in front of the Tide bench for the 75 yard touchdown.  Jessie Patton ran in the 2 point conversion

to put the Tide up 30-8.

Josh Hart on his way to his third TD to close out the scoring for the Tide.

After another Hornet touchdown drive and failed conversion made 30-14, Hart tacked on a 13 yard touchdown run for Picayune.  Jacob

Kennedy passed to Jaquarian Durr for the 2 point conversion, the second time they hooked up on the night.  The Tide led 38-14 with 6:13

left in the game.  Poplarville scored a late touchdown and a 2 point conversion to make the final 38-22.

8th Grade:  Picayune 32  Poplarville 0

Picayune's defense did not allow the Hornets passed the 50 yard line the entire game.  With the Tide leading 24-0 in the second quarter,

Poplarville reached their own 45 yard line, but Tide's Matthew Dragon intercepted a pass to end the threat.

Picayune scored first when Gabe Hinojosa busted through and out ran the Hornet secondary for a 54 yard touchdown run.  Anthony Jones

ran in the 2 point conversion for a 8-0 advantage.

On the Tide's next possession, Josh Nixon scooted in from 37 yards out for the first of his two touchdowns on the night.  Reginald Bailey

tacked on the 2 point conversion to put Picayune up 16-0.

The 8th Grade Maroon Tide defense kept the Hornets on their end of the field the entire game.

In the second quarter, Nixon raced by everyone on his way to a 39 yard touchdown run.  Sylvester Grays added the 2 point conversion to put

the Tide up 24-0 at the half.

After a scoreless third quarter, Justin Quinn closed out the scoring with a 17 yard touchdown run and Anthony Jones added his second

2 point conversion to make the final 32-0.