Picayune Defeats Natchez in Division Opener 28-6

by Carey Meitzler

After a week off due to the impact of Hurricane Ivan, the Picayune Maroon Tide hosted the Natchez

Bulldogs in their Division 3-5A opener and came away with a 28-6 victory.  The win moves the

Tide to 3-1 overall while Natchez fell to 1-4.

Picayune held Natchez on the Bulldog's first possession, and took over at the Tide 39 yard line. 

Picayune moved to the Natchez 33 yard line where they faced 4th down and 11 to go.  Alex Riser

completed a pass to Ryan Detillier, but Detillier came up short of the first down marker and Natchez

took over on downs.

Natchez took over at their 27 yard line and converted a first down, but would eventually be forced

to punt the ball to Picayune.

After the Natchez punt, Picayune took over at their own 20 yard line with 3:10 to play in the first

quarter.  Picayune drove to the Bulldog 11when they called the number of wingback Desmond

McDougle.  McDougle put the Tide on scoreboard as he raced into the endzone virtually untouched

to cap off the 12 play drive.  Scott Hillery converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead with 9:25 left in

the second quarter.

After the ensuing kickoff, Picayune forced Natchez to punt the ball back to the Maroon Tide after

3 plays.  The Tide took over at their 34 and five plays later they extended their lead on a 39 yard

run by wingback Ryan Detillier on fourth and one yard to go. Hillery was once again true on the

PAT and the Tide led 14-0 with 5:54 left before halftime.

On Natchez's next possession, they drove from their 21 yard line to the Tide 2 yard line, but they were

unable to score after a illegal block penalty moved the ball back out to the 17 yard line.  On 4th down,

Ryan Detillier knock away an attempted pass in the endzone as time expired in the first half.

Picayune took the second half kickoff and returned it to their own 38 yard line.  Four plays later,

tailback Cody Bales ran in from 27 yards, but a penalty negated the play.  After a five yard step off

against the Tide, Bales raced through and around the Bulldogs for a 32 yard score that was a near

carbon copy of the run on the previous play.  Hillery's PAT was good and Picayune led 21-0 with

10:25 showing on the clock.

Natchez responded with a 9 play 73 yard drive scoring on a 7 yard pass from Jason Bruce to

Dekeedrian Jackson. The extra point was no good and with 4:46 left in the third period the score

stood at 21-6.

Picayune came right back with a 10 play 65 yard drive capped off on a 18 yard touchdown run

by fullback Tyler Lee as he knifed through the Bulldogs on his way to the endzone. Hillery was

perfect on the PAT to make it 28-6.

Cody Bales led the Tide with 23 carries for 175 yards.  Lester Robinson finished with 52 yards

on 10 rushes.  Lee had 6 totes for 53 yards.  Alex Riser was 4 for 4 passing for 70 yards with a

pair of 20 yarders to Hillery.  As a team, Picayune ran for 349 yards on 44 attempts.  The Tide

was flagged 8 times for 70 yards.

Bruce led Natchez rushing for 70 yards on 12 carries.  Bruce passed for 124 yards completing 11 of

19 attempts.  Natchez was penalized 12 times for 120 yards.

Picayune will be at home again next week as the Hattiesburg Tigers come calling on the Maroon Tide.