Picayune holds off Stone 42-35
Perkinston--Picayune built a 35-14 lead late in the third quarter over Stone, but had to hang on for a 42-35 win over the stubborn Tomcats at A.L May Stadium in Perkinston. The win improved the Maroon Tide's overall record to 6-1 and 3-0 in Region 4-5A play.
Picayune scored on their second play from scrimmage when Shaun Anderson busted loose for a 63 yard TD. Anderson scored again when the Maroon Tide got the ball back after forcing a punt, this time scooting in from 64 yards out for a 14-0 lead after Sami Nagi kicked the point after with 2:41 left in the first quarter.
Anderson, affectionately called the "Roadrunner" by the Picayune broadcast team for his ability to get full speed quickly, got his third touchdown run on a 72 scamper to build a 21-0 lead with 11:50 left in the quarter after Nagi's extra point.
Shaun "Roadrunner" Anderson (20) on his way to one of his 5 TDs
Stone got its first points when Dylan Cobb ran for a 11 yard TD. Dawson Cudd's point after made it 21-7 with 7:18 left in the half.
Stone got the ball back when they stopped the Maroon Tide at their own 44 on a fourth down sack. The Tomcats scored 3 plays later on a 1 yard run by Trey Arrington to cut it to 21-14 with 2:39 showing on the clock.
The Roadrunner struck again, this time with a 74 yard TD run that pushed the lead to 28-14 with 1:46 left in the second quarter.
Picayune stopped Stone on their first possession of the second half with a sack on fourth down at the Stone 48. Picayune then drove the 48 yards in 12 plays with Jaurice Travis slashing in from 2 yards out with 3:22 left in the third quarter for a 35-14 lead with the Nagi's extra point.
The Tomcats clawed their way back into the game with a 14 yard TD pass from Enrique Whaley to Errol McDonald with :18 left in the third quarter. On the third play after the Stone kickoff, Picayune fumbled the ball and the Tomcats took over at the Picayune 46. Whaley scored 5 plays later on a 28 yard TD run to make it 35-21 with 10:05 left in the game.
Stone recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kick off, but turned the ball over on downs at the Picayune 17. Five plays later, Anderson broke two tackles at the line of scrimmage, cut to his right and broke another tackle, and then cut back to his left and outraced everyone on his way to a 65 yard TD run. Nagi's extra point made it 42-28 with 4:06 left in the game.
The Tomcats answered with a 10 play 62 yard drive and scored on a 2 yard run by Whaley to cut the lead to 42-35 with :39 left.
Stone once again recovered an onside kick at the Picayune 45, but fumbled the ball back on their first play. Jacob Brumley made the recovery for the Maroon Tide and Picayune ran out the clock with a victory kneel on first down.
Anderson finished the game with 19 rushes for 401 yards while Whaley led Stone with 140 yards passing, completing 6 of 13 passes, and running for 149 yards.
Picayune (6-1, 3-0) will travel to Long Beach on Friday.
