Hattiesburg at Picayune Oct 1st
Barry Harper
NOW, it's going to get interesting. Da Tigahs are coming to town. Hattiesburg first year coach
Buddy Duke has got those Tigers riding high. Coach Duke proved what most of the state already
knew. They got game!
Some of you will say they didn't have much game against Meridian. Meridian beat Hattiesburg last
Friday night by the score of 49-7. Well I've got two comments on that. First, Hattiesburg is not that
bad. Secondly, Meridian may be that good. However that was last week.
This week two pretty good high school teams will be fighting for a playoff spot at Picayune Memorial
Stadium. Playoff spot- this early in the year? You doggone right. It's going to be a war. Picayune will
face the best running back they have faced this year in Jonathan Kirksey #25. He is not extremely big
(5'9" 175lbs), but he runs extremely hard. It will be a total defensive effort to stop this young man. We
will also will face one of my favorite high school players in the state. His name is Calvin Wilson,
Mr. Calvin Wilson. Calvin is 6'5" and weighs 315 lbs. You will see him on both sides of the ball playing in
the trenches. Oh, he also starts for the Hattiesburg high basketball team. He is big and he can move.
In my opinion he is one of the best lineman in the South and maybe the entire nation. He has already
received several Division I offers.
I love these great division battles. Look for both teams to show some of their best offensive plays and
defensive schemes. However, da Tigahs have to come to Picayune and win. That's not easy to do.
Calling all of the Maroon Tide Nation to show up Friday night and be loud and be proud!
The way I see it, Picayune-20 Hattiesburg-13
Carey Meitzler
Last week's win 28-6 over Natchez was accented by a few “hidden” performances.
What a great job by the Tide Trenchers: Tackles Jeffrey Stewart and Bryce May, guards Donel Smith
and Derrick Bullock, center Preston Baker, and tight end Cydell Jones. On defense, Levi Slaydon,
Josh Pigott, Justin Griffith, Brent Acker, Stephen Hall, and Lester Robinson came up big at crucial
times. Zach Robbins and Eric Bochman cut loose with some “zingers” on kick off coverage.
I plan to talk with Hattiesburg 's Assistant Athletic Director, Jermaine Brown, during our pre-game
show on WRJW 1320 AM to get an update on Earl Eatman. Eatman is a young man who was on
his way to becoming one of the better running backs Hattiesburg has had in a long time until he
had was diagnosed with leukemia last year.
http://www.clarionledger.com/news/0402/26/r0226b.html
Earl is back playing football. Prayers are being answered.
We now turn our attention to the Hattiesburg Tigers. I hope the Maroon Tide Nation turns out in
force for this one. My advice is to bring your children, bring your neighbor's kids, your relatives,
your wife (a girlfriend will do). Short of emptying the local lock-up facilities in the county, bring
as many people as you can fit in your ride 'cause we need ‘em all to support the Tide. This week
will be the biggest challenge the Tide has faced thus far in the 2004 campaign.
While on “biggest”, this week's opponent will remind you of a Winn Dixie commercial; The Beef People .
Perhaps their best athlete, Calvin Wilson OL/DL (6-5, 315, Sr), is one of the best linemen in the nation.
Yes, nation. He is a very agile, and if you saw him play basketball, you understand what I am referring
to regarding this young man. Milton Talbert TE/DL (6-4, 230, Jr.), Charles Burns DL (6-3,255, Sr.) and
James Holloway (6-0, 250, Sr.) are tough on defense. Their defensive backs are very speedy.
Offensively, Shaun Ector WR (6-0, 160, Sr.) is very, very, very good. Their QBs are both athletic:
Dwight McClendon (6-1, 175, Jr.) and Marcus Barnes (5-11, 165, Jr.). The Tide will face a very tough
running back combo in Jonathan “Bubba” Kirksey RB (5-9,175, Jr.) and Shaun Ingram FB (5-9, 170, Sr.).
Kirksey is very shifty and hard to tackle. Ingram blocks well and is a solid fullback. I've seen them on
highlight reels on WDAM-TV 7 and they look very impressive. There's more, but the more I write, the
more I cringe. Let me get this point across: These guys are really good . The Maroon Tide will have to
keep Kirksey, Ector, and the rest of their offensive crew off the field and hopefully we can wear down
the much bigger Feline defense with ball control offense. Any way you look at it, it's a tall order for the
Tide this week.
I don't care if the University of Meridian beat Hattiesburg 49-7 last week; this bunch of Felines will be
ready to play this Friday based on two little words: Buddy Duke. He always plays us close. While he
was at Laurel , we had some classics against him and the Naders. I always enjoy my pre-game talks
and interviews with Buddy. He's a good guy; but I want to beat him. Nothing personal; just football.
Buddy is a hard-nosed guy who can't stand losing. I saw him on WDAM-TV 7 after their loss at The
Rock (USM) and he looked like somebody had licked all the color off his candy. Not a happy camper.
Picayune should get a boost when Kevin Parker OL (6-3, 270, Sr.) returns to the line up this week.
He has been recovering from torn ligaments suffered in the spring jamboree. Tim Gaff, out last week
due to a foot injury, looks like he may be able to play some this week.
This is a pivotal game for both teams. Coach Lee said last week that he thinks "we need to win all our
remaining (Division 3-5A) home games and at least one on the road to get in the playoffs."
On the other hand, Hattiesburg can ill afford going 0-2 in the Division this early in the season. I look for
the game to be a playoff atmosphere. Last year's win at Hattiesburg 's D.I. Patrick Stadium was a war
of wills: Picayune won 7-0 with one of the most inspiring defensive performances I've ever witnessed
from the booth. I think it will take that kind of effort. Coach Lee and the staff will have them ready.
MTXE prevails in this one. Picayune 24 Hattiesburg 19