Maroon Tide Washes Out Harrison Central  38-7

by Carey Meitzler

The Picayune Maroon Tide used a stifling defense and a quick strike offense to defeat the visiting

Harrison Central Red Rebels 38-7 on a wet, humid night in Picayune. As the rains began to fall in

the second quarter, Picayune methodically took control of the game and picked up their second

win of the season in front of enthusiastic Maroon Tide Nation crowd. The Maroon Tide players

wore “PAT” decals on their helmets in memory of long time Tide supporter Pat Blades, who died

two weeks ago.

 

The Tide forced the Red Rebels into a three and out scenario on their first possession of the game.

The Red Rebel punt was a short one and the Tide set up shop on HCHS 46 yard line. The Tide

wasted little time in scoring as junior quarterback Alex Riser lofted a perfectly thrown pass to

senior Scott Hillery from 18 yards out. Hillery added the PAT to post the Tide to a 7-0 advantage

with 6:43 showing on the first quarter clock.

 

After another HCHS punt, the Tide started at their own 27. Facing 3 rd and 3 at the Red Rebel 24,

Desmond McDougle took a handoff headed to his left and appeared to be going nowhere before

reversing his field, pick up some good blocks and lumbered down to the 8 yard line. After a one

yard loss and two incomplete passes, the Tide called on Scott Hillery and the senior drilled a 27

yard field goal to put the Tide up 10-0 with 8:21 left in the 2nd quarter.

Scott Hillery and Alex Riser team up on touchdown passes of 17 & 18 yards.

The Red Rebels next possession was not very fruitful either as the Tide stopped them on downs.

On fourth and five at the Tide 40, HCHS quarterback Kelly Weems was sacked by sophomore

Levi Slaydon at the HCHS 37 yard line.

 

On fourth and 7 yards to go at the HCHS 36 yard line, Riser hooked up with senior Ryan Detillier

for a 24 pass moving the ball to the Red Rebel 12 yard line. Three plays later, Corderis Brown

scored his 4th touchdown of the season a 6 yard run. Hillery's PAT pushed the score to 17-0

with 2:48 to go in the 2nd quarter.

 

The Red Rebels mounted a threat on their next possession moving to the Tide 31 yard line. On

first down from the 31, Adam “ Miami ” Woods intercepted a Weems pass at the Tide 7 yard

line to kill the drive and send to Tide to locker room with a 17-0 halftime advantage.

 

On the first possession of the second half, Alex Riser was hit while trying to throw a pass,

the ball squirted loose, and the Red Rebels were in business at the Tide 31 yard line.  The

Red Rebels gave the ball back to the Tide as senior safety Stephen Hall sacked HCHS' Weems

at the Tide 36 on fourth down.

Picayune promptly marched 64 yards in 6 plays scoring on a strike from Riser to Hillery from

17 yards outs. Hillery, running a quick slant, caught the ball just inside the 10 yard line

and sliced through the Red Rebel secondary for the score. Hillery added the PAT and with

3:35 to play in the 3rd quarter, the Tide was on top by a 24-0 count.

Corderis Brown 15 rushes, 110 yards, 2 TDs                 Cody Bales 13 rushes, 111 yards, 1 TD (45 yarder)

Picayune forced another Red Rebel punt on the next possession and took over at the HCHS

47 yard line. On third down, senior Cody Bales broke tackles, got to the left sideline and

raced in from 45 yards for the touchdown. Hillery was true on the PAT to put the Tide up

31-0 with :51 left in the 3rd quarter.

 

   Adam "Miami" Woods  and Lester Robinson each had an interception for the Tide.

On the Red Rebels next possession, safety Lester Robinson intercepted a Weems pass near

midfield and returned it to the HCHS 39 yard line. Six plays later, Corderis Brown garnered

his 5th touchdown of the season, slashing in from 4 yards out.  Hillery's PAT was good and

the Tide led 38-0 with 8:48 to play.

 

The Red Rebels scored on their next possession as the Tide substituted freely on defense.

Terrance Singleton scored from 1 yard out.

 

On the night, the Tide amassed 309 yards rushing on 43 attempts. Brown finished with

110 yards on 15 carries. Bales had 111 yards on 13 totes. Riser was 3 of 7 for 59 yards

and the two TDs to Hillery.

 

Next week, the Tide (2-0) will travel to Milner Stadium in Gulfport to take on the

Admirals who also stand at 2-0 with wins over Vicksburg in week one and an impressive

41-21 win over highly touted George County .