Picayune pounds Meridian 63-7
Picayune—The Maroon Tide defense did not allow a first down and gave the offense the ball on Meridian’s side of the 50 yard line on six occasions in Picayune’s 63-7 win over the Wildcats at Lee-Triplett Stadium.
Cameron Thomas scored the first of his four touchdowns on a 38 yard run on Picayune’s first possession of the game. Austin Samples, who was perfect on the night ( 9 for 9) on point after’s made it 7-0 with 7:08 to play in the first quarter.
All photos by Randy Brown/WRJW Sports
Cameron Thomas (8) breaks loose on a 38 yard touchdown run
On Picayune’s next possession, quarterback Jakail Myers and Blake Mitchell connected on a 55 yard pass on first down and Thomas scored one play later on a 3 yard run to make it 14-0 after the Samples' extra point with 3:27 left in the first quarter.
Chad Dudenhefer (22) on his way to a 41 yard touchdown run
Chad Dudenhefer blasted through the middle on good blocks from guards Garret Hunter and Kaylup Jones and center Collen Penton for a 41 yard touchdown on the first play of the Maroon Tide’s third possession with 1:13 left in the first.
Dorian Robinson blocked the Meridian punt on the next possession and Picayune took over at the Wildcat 6 yard line. Quarterback Isaac Hickman threw a touchdown pass to Thomas on the first play and Samples' extra point made it 28-0 with 11:36 left in the second quarter.
Jalen Hall (20) scored on this 41 yard run
Myers, playing defense, got the ball back for Picayune with an interception at the Meridian 41. Jalen Hall scored on the first play taking a handoff on a reverse from Thomas. Samples made it 35-0 with 10:46 left in the half.
Meridian scored its points on fumble return of 24 yards with 8:36 on the second quarter clock.
Thomas scored on another 38 yard scamper around right end with 2:15 left in the half to make it 42-7.
Dorian Robinson (5) returns an interception
Robinson got the ball back again for the Maroon Tide with an interception return to the Meridian 5 yard line and Thomas got his fourth touchdown on the first play after the interception to make it 49-7 with :16 left before half.
Hall scored on a 12 yard run around left end on Picayune’s first possession of the second half and Dante Dowdell got the final touchdown with 11:44 left in the game on a 4 yard run. Dowdell’s score was setup on a Elijah Jenkins fumble recovery at the Meridian 18 yard line.
Picayune ran for 324 yards with Thomas leading the way with 134 on 12 carries.
The Maroon Tide hits the road next at Gulfport.
