Harrison Central at Picayune Sept 3rd
Barry Harper
WOW! Way to go Maroon Tide! I really didn't know what to expect this past Friday night. We
lost a lot of good football players to graduation last year. Any time you start a new season with
inexperienced players, especially inexperienced players at key positions, no one really knows
what to expect. Now, add in the fact that Moss Point players looked like a Division I team in size,
I was really concerned. However, once we got up 19-0, my anxieties started to go away.
For the first game of the year, I would have to give a grade of A+ to the whole team. I think we
need to give credit to the Jr. High, Freshmen, and JV programs for being an awesome feeder
program to the high school team. The stability of our coaching staff and the way the program is
set up from the top to the bottom is a real asset to the kids. This starts at the top. Coach Lee needs
to be commended for this. This is why we played for a South State Championship last year. This
is why we won Friday night against a much bigger team. This is why me and several hundred fans
of the Maroon Tide Nation follow this program every Friday night. They are fun to watch.
Alex Riser played exceptional for his first varsity start. I was most impressed with his accurate throws.
If he continues to throw the ball that well, it will make an already very good running game even better.
Most high school teams only have 1 or 2 guys who can catch. This group has several players who can
catch the ball. This bunch also has got 5 or 6 guys who they can depend on to pick up critical yardage
in close games. I am not talking about guys who will come in the game when the outcome has already
been decided. I am talking about fullback and tailback positions where we are three deep.
The defense does not look as big as some of the Maroon Tide defenses in the past, however what
they may lack in size they makeup in speed and quickness. The linebacker positions are occupied
by some very talented players and our defensive backs seemed to never be out of position Friday
night. This tells me that we have a very smart bunch in that defensive backfield. Scott Hillery and
Ryan Detillier may be the best safety combo in the state. Both are smart, fast and they will hit you.
Special teams are going to be just fine. We all have been watching Hillery kick for several years
now and know what he his capable of. Our new punter Gaff, showed an extremely strong leg
Friday by booming one punt 49 yards falling out of the sky into the end zone. That is a 49 yard
punt without the benefit of a roll. Our cover teams were excellent and if there was a better player
than "TIGER LEE" making tackles on a punt Friday night, I couldn't watch. And I know those punt
returners for Moss Point are glad "TIGER LEE" left town.
Now this Friday night is going to be tough. This bunch stole one from us last year. Harrison Central
always has loads of talent to go along with great team speed. They have a new coach in Ronnie
Cuevas. Coach Cuevas comes to Harrison Central from Starkville . Before that he was at Gulfport
High for several years. He is an outstanding coach and he will have the Red Rebels ready. So come
out this Friday night and support the Maroon Tide. It promises to be a great ballgame. A great game
for Picayune that is!
The way I see it - PICAYUNE-37 HARRISON CENTRAL-7
Carey Meitzler
First of all, I want to thank Jason "Gator" Pigott and Clay "Sweetness" Sweet for a great job
on the broadcast last week. They really work hard and I feel privileged to work with them.
They make it easy for me and I look forward to the next 10 plus weeks. Thanks to their lovely
wives for letting spend each Friday night with an old guy like me. You guys are a hoot.
My prediction for last week vs Moss Point was Tide 13-9. Remember that our defense had Moss
Point at 9 points and would have kept them at 9 if not for one penalty that allowed them to
continue a drive and score a TD. One comment: Ryan intercepted the pass regardless of what
the official ruled, but….. So is our offense three times better than I thought (3 x 13=39)?
No, not yet. By the way, that explanation in parenthesis is for Barry Harper and Rob Sigler.
They attended Delta State and there are a few things, like multiplication, that are a little advanced
and therefore, they didn't cover them at the home of the Fightin' Okra (Statesmen). I shouldn't pick
on Rob; he taught me how to say "carnivorous" last week just in time for the Scoreboard Show.
Barry, well, he's just Barry, and I can't help it sometimes because he gives me so much material
on himself. Seriously, I think the world of both of those guys in spite of their choice of higher
learning. I can only imagine what those earlier comments will bring in retaliation. Oh, well, too
late to worry now.
In describing the Tide's performance, opportunistic is the word. We capitalized three of the
five times we forced the Felines to fumble. From their 25, 29, and 27 (after fumble recoveries),
we eventually scored touchdowns. Another time, after a failed fake punt, we started on our 49
and eventually scored. The offense also played “patented” Dodd Lee football by driving 66
yards in 11 plays consuming 5:58 off the clock (more math for Barry & Rob…that's just shy
of one half of a quarter). Another drive was 65 yards in 5 plays and the one from the 49 took
7 plays to cover the 51 yards. QB Alex Riser looked confident running the offense. Our backs
ran the ball extremely well behind the efforts of tackles Bryce May & Jeffrey Stewart, guards
Derrick Bullock & Donel Smith, center Preston Baker, and tight end Clydell Jones.
Speaking of our backs, Tim Gaff, Tyler Lee, Cody Bales, Desmond McDougal, Ryan Detillier,
and Corderis Brown ran hard. Apologies to Corderis for the name mess up. Nobody's fault
but mine. I know these kids so well, I made my roster from looking at the pictures I took for the
web site, and made a huge, but honest, blunder. I have already spoken to Corderis this week
and want to publicly apologize to his family.
Also, the keep on catching it request goes out to Hoyt “The Other” Hughes, Scott Hillery, and
Desmond “Dez” McDougal. Dez not only made a good run on a reverse, he had a great catch
and run (53 yards), and late in the game he “unloaded his truck” on one of those Feline receivers.
Maybe we should call him "Mack Truck" instead of Dez ?
Cody Bales was a triple threat running, catching & running, and special teams. Speaking of
special teams, I bet they block Tyler Lee this week (request from the returners if they watched
the film vs Moss Point).
On defense, the guys played well against a team that will probably get better and contend for
the Division 4-5A title before November rolls around. If we progress (we still have a long way
to go) , we may see Moss Point again in November. Stephen Hall and Lester Robinson did just
what I figured they would do: TACKLE PEOPLE and disrupt things for the opponents. I think
Stephen was in on about 10 tackles and Lester about the same. Our defensive backs, well Barry
already stated it. The down linemen of Devin McDonald, Nigel Thomas, Josh Pigott, Monqueil
Massey, Donel Smith, Reggie Harris,and Levi Slaydon all contributed. Eric Bochman and Brent
Acker played well. I've learned over the past 10 years that it's all about everyone doing their part,
playing their role, carrying out their assignment. Little things to make big things happen.
Finally, cudos to Joe Burrage for stepping in to kick those two PATs giving Scott a well
deserved rest. There may be times Scott is winded and Joe will have to step in.
This week's opponent is the Harrison Central Red Rebels. They always have good athletes.
They are fast and very athletic at the skilled positions (as usual). Their quarterback Kelly Weems
(6-1, 190, Sr.) is playing his first year of varsity football and is also a catcher for their baseball
team. Their backs are talented, especially J.J. Roberson (5-6, 170,Sr.) who lines up just
about everywhere (did in the spring game). Their tight end Calvin Coleman (6-2, 195, Sr.)
and wide receiver Michael Pace (6-0, 170, Sr.) are very fast and can catch it. I think the
Red Rebels are more balanced than Moss Point and will be a much bigger challenge for the
defense. Throw in all the misdirection of the Wing-T and you can have your hands full. I think
we will.
The key for the Tide is to avoid turnovers and be opportunistic once again this week. I don't think
we can overlook anybody on this schedule, Division game or not. One mental lapse and you
can get your feelings hurt real quick. I hope our fans follow Coach Lee's post game interview
advice from last week and come out and see this bunch play at home this week. The Maroon
Tide Nation traveled extremely well last week (always do it seems) and anything short of a
packed house on the home stands will be a huge disappointment. After this week, it'll be two
more road trips before your next chance to see ‘em. It'll be a close one, but as Coach Lee said last
week, "Any win, with our schedule, is a big win."
Picayune 24 Harrison Central 14 (maybe even closer)
Once again, I am reminding all of us that this game, just like all the others, is just a game in
the grand scheme of things. Please pray for our troops abroad, their families, and our leaders
of this great country. The reality of life and death is what these people deal with everyday
and in some cases they have made the ultimate sacrifice. May God Bless Them All.