Maroon Tide Drops 6-3 Decision to Brandon

by Carey Meitzler

Picayune was unable to score a touchdown for the second consecutive week as they

were defeated by the Brandon Bulldogs 6-3 in a Division 3-5A game played at Louis Gene

Strickland Field in Brandon.  The Tide defense turned in a stellar performance for

the second consecutive game.

Picayune held Brandon on their possession of the game and forced them to punt the ball

away.  On the Tide's first play from the scrimmage from their own 41, Picayune completed

a pass for a 9 yard gain, but fumbled the ball and the Bulldogs recovered at the 50 yard line.

Brandon would drive to the Tide 25 yard line before having to call on Tucker Hoge to

convert a 42 yard field goal for a 3-0 lead with 5:51 left in the quarter.

Picayune would later turn the ball over on downs at the Brandon 38 yard line.  The Bulldogs

would then drive to the Tide 3 yard line before the drive stalled.  Hoge kicked a 20 yard

field to put Brandon up 6-0 with :50 left in the second quarter.

Picayune fumbled the ensuing kickoff at their own 29 yard line, but the defense would turn

Brandon away and the half ended with the Bulldogs up 6-0.

In the third quarter, the Tide's first possession went nowhere and they had to punt the

ball to Brandon.  On Brandon's fourth play of the drive, the Tide got an interception by

Picayune's Ryan Detillier at the Brandon 15 yard line and he returned the ball out to the

36 yard line.  The Tide could not convert a first down and had to punt.

Ryan Detillier

The Tide would get points on the board when Scott Hillery kicked a 36 yard field goal

with 8:53 left in the game.  On the drive, the Tide offense appeared to have come to

life when Detillier ran for 19 yards on the first play of the fouth quarter and Bales

followed that run with a 22 yarder to put the ball Bulldog 4 yard line.  However, an

illegal procedure penalty and two losses would force the Tide to settle for the field goal.

Picayune would get the ball back one more time, but was able to convert a first down and

had to punt the ball away.  Brandon took possession with 4:54 to play and converted two

first downs and was able to run out the clock.

Picayune finished the game with only 75 yards rushing on 26 attempts.  Alex Riser was

2 of 8 for 20 yards.  Brandon rushed 44 times for 123 yards and was 6 of 14 passing for

60 yards.

The loss drops the Tide to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Division 3-5A while Brandon is 3-5 and 2-2

respectively.

Next week, Picayune will host Hancock for homecoming while Brandon entertains Meridian.