Oak Grove 31 Picayune 28
Tide Unable to Stop Warriors Wide Open Attack in Waning Moments
by Carey Meitzler
For Picayune to advance to the first round of next week's Class 5A playoffs, they had to beat Oak
Grove Warriors in the regular season finale, but Oak Grove overcame 14-0 and 21-7 deficits to
defeated Picayune 31-28 at Picayune to end the Tide's season.
After a good return on the opening kickoff by Justin Berry to the Tide 32 yard line, the Tide surprised
everyone in the stadium when wingback Desmond McDougle took a hand off from QB Alex Riser and
threw a 31 pass completion to WR Scott Hillery putting the Tide at the Warrior 31. Cody Bales, who
finished the night with 178 yards on 36 carries, busted loose on a 21 yard scamper putting the Tide
at the Warrior 10 yard line. Two plays later, Bales would score from 5 yards out with 9:34 on the clock.
Hillery kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead.
Scott Hillery Desmond McDougle
Cody Bales Tim Gaff
Jeffrey Stewart Donel Smith
Kevin Parker Ryan Detillier
The Maroon Tide defense held Oak Grove on the Warriors first possession, forced a punt and started
their next drive from the Picayune 37 yard line. Picayune marched 63 yards in 10 plays with Riser
scoring on a 1 yard sneak and with Hillery's point after led 14-0 with 3:21 left in the first quarter.
The Warriors didn't seem too concerned as they scored on the second play of their next possession
on a 65 pass from QB Zack Harrington to wide receiver Ricky Smith. Taylor Lovitt kicked the first
of his four extra points to cut the Tide margin to 14-7 with 2:50 left in the first quarter.
Picayune's next possession ended on an interception by Deon Young at the Warrior 47 yard line.
However, Oak Grove could not move the ball, mainly because of a 12 sack of Harrington by line-
backer Brent Acker on second down. The Warriors punted the ball back to Picayune and the Maroon
Tide had great field possession at the Warrior 44 yard line.
Picayune ran the ball seven consecutive plays including two 9 yard runs by fullback Tim Gaff. The
Tide touchdown came as the result of a 14 touchdown run by McDougle. The play started as Riser
handed the ball to Bales as he went to his right and Bales quickly handed the ball to McDougle
headed to his left. Hillery kicked the PAT for a 21-7 lead with 7:43 left in the second quarter.
The Warriors next possession ended on a fourth down play at the Picayune 17 yard line as Scott
Hillery, playing defensive back, knocked the ball away from Warrior receiver Chris Ryals at
the Picayune 5 yard line.
The Tide was able to convert one first down, but could muster no more and had to punt the ball back
to Oak Grove. The Warriors took over at their own 22 yard line with 1:41 left in the second quarter.
Harrington completed a 33 yard pass to Torris Magee followed by a 28 yarder to Ricky Wright that
put his team at the Tide 17 yard line. Ladderick Jackson ran the ball 16 yards to the 1 yard line and
scored on the next play for the touchdown. Lovitt's kick made it 21-14 at the half.
On the second half kickoff, Dale Meitzler unloaded a hard hit on the Warrior's return man, forcing a
fumble that was recovered by Hillery at the Oak Grove 23 yard line. However, on third down Blaine
English intercepted a Riser pass to eliminate the Tide threat.
The Warriors couldn't move the ball and punted it back to Picayune at the Tide 26 yard line. The
Tide was unable to convert a third down and 6 as Bales was stopped short. Picayune punted the
ball back to Oak Grove.
Harrington went to work at his own 31 yard line and drove the Warriors 69 yards in 11 plays, getting
the touchdown on a 7 yard pass to Ricky Smith. Lovitt's PAT made it 21-21 with 4:27 to go in the third
quarter.
Picayune's next drive got a boost with a roughing the punter penalty, but the Maroon Tide had to punt the
ball back to the Warriors as Bales was once again stopped attempting to run the ball on a third down and
6 yards to go at the Tide 38 yard line.
Oak Grove took over at their own 33 yard line and Harrington mixed his pin-point passes with runs by
Jackson to cover the 67 yards in 9 plays with the touchdown coming on 26 yard scoring strike to Magee.
The extra point by Lovitt made 28-21 with 9:02 left.
Picayune responded behind the running of Gaff and Bales to move the ball from their own 29 to the
Warrior 33 yard line. On third and 7 yards to go, Riser connected with Ryan Detillier on a 20 pass to
move the ball to the 13 yard line. Riser would score on a 1 yard run with 1:40 left in the game. Hillery's
PAT tied the score at 28-28.
Harrington, starting his drive at the Warrior 37 yard line, methodically moved his team to the Tide
2 yard line with :07 left. Lovitt came on to kick the 20 yard field goal to all but seal the victory as the
clock showed :02 left after his kick.
The Tide returned the kickoff to their own 40 yard line as time expired.
Ryan Detillier, Scott Hillery, and Jeffrey Stewart pose for one last picture.
Related story by The Hattiesburg American(Click Here)
Harrington finished 16 of 29 for 281 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson rushed 19 time for 111 yards.
Cody Bales, who ran 36 times for 178 yards, finishes the 2004 season with 1,113 yards on 195 carries.
Tim Gaff contributed 85 tough yards on 14 rushes in a stellar peformance in his last game for the Tide.
The offensive line of junior tight end Clydell Jones, senior tackles Jeffrey Stewart and Kevin Parker,
senior guard Donel Smith and junior Derrick Bullock, and junior center Preston Baker gave a tremendous
effort for Picayune.
With the win, Oak Grove (7-3, 4-3) became the Region 3-5A fourth seed and will travel to play at
Gulfport in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs beginning next week.
Picayune finishes with an overall record of 5-5 and 3-4 in Region 3-5A.