Thursday December 11th:
Boys: Oak Grove 6 Picayune 3
Picayune lost 6-3 in district soccer action. The Picayune Maroon Tide is now 1-1 in the district play. While the scoreboard said
6-3 the game was actually much closer. Several goals were scored by Oak Grove on some questionable calls. Scoring began when
Oak Grove out ran a defender to the ball and went one on one with the Tide goalie. Scott Hillery answered back with a break away
goal on a long pass from Juan Barajas. Oak Grove then scored on what appeared to offsides play but the referee let the goal stand.
Oak Grove almost scored again, when the referee awarded them a Penalty Kick, but goalie Kaleb Raybon came up with a big save.
With only a few minutes to play in the first half Scott Hillery took a long pass from sweeper Joe Burrage and scored to tie it up at 2-2.
Scott Hillery opened up the second half by completing his hat trick when he took a pass from Britton Fortenberry and beat the Warrior
keeper to the near post.
The Tide held the lead for most of the second half, but then the wheels began to slowly come off. Oak Grove scored on a break
away. The Tide defense was again appealing for the offsides but again the referee let the goal stand. The Warriors then took the lead,
when the Oak Grove forward shoved Joe Burrage down so he could get the shot off. A minute later the same play repeated itself,
but Tide defender Burrage tried to hold his ground and the referee awarded the Warriors a Penalty Kick which they converted.
With timerunning out, Tide midfielder Juan Barajas fouled a Warrior player. The foul appeared to be outside the penalty box, but the
referee awarded Oak Grove their third Penalty Kick of the game. As soon as Oak Grove converted the PK the referee blew the whistle
to end the game. Oak Grove's last 3 goals were scored in less than 10 minutes.
The #10 ranked and defending 5A State Champion Oak Grove Warriors are the team to beat in District 5-5A, but the Tide learned in
this game that they can play with the state soccer powers.