October 22, 2010

Maroon Tide cruises past PRC 41-3

by Carey Meitzler

Carriere--The Picayune Maroon Tide stayed unbeaten with a 41-3 win over the Pearl River Central Blue Devils at Kenneth

L. Hendrix Stadium.  The win moves the Maroon Tide 8-0 overall and 5-0 in Region 3-5A.

On the first play from scrimmage, Jamal Hall raced 58 yards to move the ball to the PRC 18.  A personal foul on PRC moved

the ball to the 9.  On fourth and 2, Hall scored around left end with 9:37 left. Pacer Frierson kicked the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

After an exchange of punts, the Blue Devils were forced to punt again from their own 49.  As the Blue Devils coverage team

and the Maroon Tide return team moved down the field, the punt was short and bounced way behind everyone at the Tide 40.

Picayune's Justin Mark grabbed the ball one hop and raced untouched down the right sideline for a touchdown.  Frierson's

PAT was good for a 14-0 lead with 1:25 left in the quarter.

After PRC was forced to punt again, the Tide took over at their 44 as time expired in the first quarter.  On the first play of

the second quarter, Jamal Hall broke loose for a 56 yard touchdown run.  The PAT was wide right and Picayune led 20-0

with 11:49 left.

The Blue Devils took over at their 20 after Frierson's third touchback on the game. The first play of the possession was

a 35 yard pass from Dylan Spiers to Bryce Spence.  PRC moved the ball to the Picayune 24 and settled for a 41 yard

field goal by Devon Notto with 6:31 left to make it 20-3.

Picayune scored on their next possession.  Facing fourth and two at their own 45, Scottie Merrill got the first down to the

Tide 49 with a great second effort after being hit twice behind the line.  On the next play, Merrill ran 51 yards for the touch-

down.  Frierson converted the PAT for a 27-3 lead.

The Blue Devils got a great return on the kickoff from Spence as he went from his 7 to the Picayune 35.  On fourth down

and two at the 28, Picayune's Cody Smith stopped the Blue Devil runner short of the first down and the Maroon Tide took

over.  On first down, Hall scooted 41 yards to the PRC 32.  On the next play, Ben Hickman lofted a perfect pass to Merrill

who grabbed the pass at the 25 and ran in for the touchdown.   Frierson converted the extra point for a 34-3 lead at the

half.

PRC's first possession of the second half ended with a punt to the Maroon Tide 7.   Picayune marched 93 yards on 11 plays

taking 6:41 off the clock.   Sophomore Doug Cross scored from 9 yards out with 1:50 left in the quarter.  On the drive,

Cross carried the ball 7 times for 41 yards.   Nathan Frank kicked the extra point.

Hall, playing just the first half, finished with 179 yards on 12 carries.

Picayune hosts top-ranked West Jones next Friday.