Picayune at Biloxi  Sept 17th

Barry Harper

I will not release any prediction unless I know for sure the Tide is playing. I can't afford to use

any of my valuable brain power on a prediction unless I really need to do so. Plus I was busy

following Ivan with the National Weather Service.  If they play, then I see it....

Picayune 34  Biloxi 6

Carey Meitzler

I am introducing a new term this week for football: Turnarounds. What? Yep. Turnarounds. They are

far worse than turnovers. Turnovers are defined as when the opponent gets the ball from you via a

fumble or interception. Turnarounds are the same thing with the added twist of occurring when we

have the other guys on the ropes. The Tide committed two turnarounds in the Gulfport game last week

that were deadly. Five turnovers total, three fumbles and two interceptions, but a pair of turnarounds

at the Admiral 13 and 20 yard lines.  Coach Lee said it and I agree it is not a cliché;  just a fact.

Turnovers kill you. Even worse, turnarounds always come back to haunt you.

The Tide did get a great effort from senior Cody Bales (28 rushes, 141 yards and a touchdown). Cody,

still dealing with a nagging injury, did all he could to take up the slack when we lost Corderis Brown

for the rest of the year due to ligament damage suffered in the 2nd quarter.  Picayune ran for 321 yards

on 62 attempts. Coach Lee will take that number any night and 9 times out of 10 we'll win.  But, those

turnarounds are brutal.

This week, weather permitting, Picayune travels to take on the Biloxi Indians in their new on-campus

stadium.   Biloxi must be pretty upset after losing to rival D'Iberville last week at home 24-14.  The

Indians had scored 35 and 41 points in previous weeks.  Losing at home was bad enought, but to the

D'Iberville Warriors, practically their neighbores, probably didn't set very well with ex-Warrior,

current Biloxi Head Coach David Russell.  There was a quote in the Sun Herald Sound Off section

where a Warrior fan said Biloxi should name of the new stadium Warrior Stadium. Ouch !!!!

Biloxi 's Damion Fletcher is their ‘go-to' guy. He lines up at running back, wing back, wide receiver.

They make no secret about their desire to get the ball in his hands. Overall, they have improved drastically

from last year. The Tide defense will have to bring their "A" game to contain Flecther and the Indians.

If the Tide can avoid the distractions of Ivan's arrival and the “check out the new stadium” feeling,

they should be okay in this one.  Picayune has proved they can move the ball. Look for Cody Bales

and Lester Robinson to get a lot of chances. Yes, Lester.  Remember, his performance against Hattiesburg

last year when we were shorthanded.  Lester should be able to give Cody some help.  The Tide Trenchers

(Jeffrey Stewart, Bryce May, Preston Baker, Donel Smith, Derrick Bullock, and Clydell Jones) did a good

job last week. It was those turna…..(okay, I won't mention it again this week).

Picayune 28 Biloxi 14