Picayune Loses a Tough One to Northwest Rankin 21-12
by Carey Meitzler
The Picayune Maroon Tide traveled to Northwest Rankin with a possible playoff berth on the line, but suffered a
very tough loss by a score of 21-12 to the Cougars. The game had a little bit of everything, but it was a play
on the line of scrimmage that left many of the Maroon Tide Nation faithful scratching their heads trying to figure
out what had occurred with 8:30 left in the game.
The Maroon Tide, trailing 21-12, held the Cougars and forced a punt that only traveled 8 yards and Picayune
had the ball at the Cougar with 9:52 left in the game. Facing a third down and 6 to go at the Cougar 21, it was
obvious that a Cougar defensive line charged across the neutral zone prior to the snap and appeared to make
contact with Picayune's center Preston Baker. Baker snapped the ball, it was fumbled and NW Rankin recovered.
There was no whistle, no flag, only an unfortunate outcome for the Maroon Tide. NW Rankin took the ball and
ran 16 plays, milking over 7 minutes and 30 seconds from the clock before turning the ball over on downs at
the Maroon Tide 9 yard line with :56 to play. The Tide completed a couple of passes and moved the ball to the
Cougar 45 before time expired.
Picayune's opening drive ended on a failed fourth down play at the Cougar 47 yard line. The Cougars scored
three plays later as Stuart Davidson took in a pass from Tyler Moore at the Tide 40 yard, broke a tackle, and
raced down the sideline in front of his bench for a 48 yard touchdown. Kevin Conerly kicked the extra point for
a 7-0 lead with 6:48 to play in the first quarter.
Picayune answered on their next possession going 80 yards in 11 plays with Cody Bales scoring from 3 yards
out with 7:01 left in the second quarter. The extra point was blocked and Northwest Rankin led 7-6.
The Cougars scored on their next possession on a trick play. Moore handed off to the tailback, who handed
off to Davidson, who returned the ball to Moore. Moore fired down field to a wide open Todd McInnis for a
55 yard score. Conerly's extra point made it 14-6 with 5:34 to play in the second quarter.
Picayune started at their 17 yard line after the Cougar kickoff and drove the ball to their own 43 yard line. Facing
a 4th and 5 yards to go, the Tide came up one yard short and the Cougars took over with 1:51 on the clock.
PIcayune 's defense stiffened and forced a Cougar punt that rolled dead at the Tide 13 yard line. With :58 left
on the clock, Picayune used some trickery of their own as Desmond McDougle threw a 46 yard pass to Scott
Hillery putting the Tide in business at the Cougar 41 yard line. The Tide would move the ball down to the 11
yard line, but had to settle for a field goal attempt from Scott Hillery. Hillery's kick was blocked and picked up
by Elliot Marshall who raced 82 yards for an apparent touchdown, but the Cougars were called for an illegal block
on the return and the ball was placed at the Picayune 43 yard line. The Cougars attempted a 60 yard field goal
that was short and the half ended at 14-6.
NW Rankin drove 87 yards in 9 plays on the first possession of the second half with Cody Brumfield running it
in from 16 yards for the touchdown. Conerly converted his third point after touchdown for a 21-6 lead with 8:01
left in the quarter.
The Maroon Tide answered with a 12 play 80 yard drive with Bales scoring from 5 yards out. The Tide elected
to go for two points, but Bales was tackled just inches short of the goal line with 1:49 left in the third quarter.
Bales finished with 161 yards on 31 carries. Tim Gaff rushed the ball 6 times for 27 yards. Alex Riser completed
5 of 11 attempts through the air for 56 yards.
Moore finished 6 of 8 for 156 yards. Stephen Wright was the leading rusher for the Cougars with 93 yards on 19
rushes.
Picayune (5-4, 3-3) will host Oak Grove next week with the winner advancing to the playoffs.
Northwest Rankin (9-1, 6-0) will play at Meridian for the Division 3-5A championship.