BILOXI —
Picayune opens defense of its 2011 Class 5A state championship on Saturday.
The Maroon Tide will compete in the renewal of the tradition-rich Shrimp Bowl Classic, which takes place here Saturday at Biloxi High School.
Picayune faces the host Biloxi Indians, in a marquee match-up for the opening weekend of prep football in the state of Mississippi. The teams are slated to meet at 7:30, or 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game of the doubleheader which pits Pascagoula against Gulfport. That game begins at 4 p.m.
The game pits a pair of the higher ranked teams in pre-season in the state. Picayune is fifth and Biloxi eighth in the first edition of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Top 25 Preseason Poll. In the Super 10 Poll by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the Maroon Tide is ranked fifth and the Indians sixth.
Biloxi returns a powerful offense that averaged over 40 points per game last season. Senior quarterback Jaylen Woullard is back at the helm of the Indians offense, after throwing for just over 2,000 yards and rushing for almost 1,300 yards last year. He also accounted for 38 touchdowns.
Picayune must replace the heart of a solid defensive unit that was key in the state title run last season.
Steady linebackers Troy Egana and Cody Smith are gone, as are Ken Breland, Dalvin Acker and Nolan Fletcher from the speedy secondary.
Picayune returns 10 starters on offense, though.
“We have some experience on offense, but we are going to have to use this tough opening part of our schedule to help the defense get ready,” Picayune head coach Dodd Lee, who is in his 17th season at the helm of his alma mater, said. “Last year our defense brought us back to the level of play we had been known for. Now we have to keep that going if we want to continue to be successful.”
The game is the first of a tough four game stretch for the Maroon Tide before they open Region 4-5A play. Picayune hosts Petal next week, and then meets Forrest County AHS at home the following week. After a week off, the Maroon Tide travels to Ocean Springs. All four teams are ranked in the Top 12 by the MPB Preseason Poll.
The first game is also a rare meeting between the two long time tradiional powers in South Mississippi prep circles. It is the first time the teams have played since 2003, and just the third meeting in the past 20 years between the schools on the gridiron.
It is the first time Picayune has traveled to Biloxi since 1993.
Sports
Tide faces Indians
- Sports
-
-
Season ends for Maroon Tide
Picayune’s magical playoff run came up just short of a spot in the state finals.
Homestanding Pascagoula, the defending Class 5A state champs, took a hard-fought 5-3 win over the Maroon Tidee in game three of the best of three South State finals here Saturday before a capacity crowd at Ingalls Field. -
Season ends for Maroon Tide
The season came to an end for the Picayune baseball team Saturday afternoon with a 5-3 loss to homestanding Pascagoula here at Ingalls Field in the third and deciding game of the Class 5A South State championship series.
-
Tide stays alive
And it all comes down to this.
Picayune and Pascagoula will face off in a one game, winner take all
showdown today at 2 p.m., at Ingalls Field for the Class A South State
prep baseball championship and the right to play for the state title. -
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Host Pearl River opened Region 23 Tournament play in dominating fashion here Thursday in Wildcat Stadium, demolishing top-seeded East Central 12-1 in eight innings and now faces second-seeded LSU-Eunice (La.) in Friday’s second round at 7 p.m.
-
Panther pitcher shuts out Maroon Tide
Pascagoula’s Andrew Crane continued his dominance of Picayune Thursday night.
-
Season ends for Lady Hornets
Poplarville's season came to and end in the Class 4A South state finals Tuesday night.
The visiting Lady Hornets fell to Newton County 10-2 in game two of the best-of-three series. -
Lady Hornets face Newton County
Two more wins, and Poplarville will be playing for the Class 4A state championship in fast-pitch softball.
The Lady Hornets have a chance at getting that first victory today. -
Polderman’s, Mitchell win titles
The Picayune Maroon Tide and the Pearl River Central Blue Devils both competed in the Class 5A South State track and field championships this past Saturday at Long Beach High School.
-
Tide sweeps; Devils swept
Picayune finished the regular season nine games under the break even mark.
But, four games into the Class 5A South State playoffs. the Maroon Tide is unbeaten. -
Lady Hornets beat North Pike
Poplarville is moving on to the Class 4A South State finals.
The Lady Hornets swept the best-of-three semifinal series with North Pike, completing the affair with a 2-0 road win Monday night. - More Sports Headlines
-
Season ends for Maroon Tide
Raw: Widespread Destruction in Moore, Okla.
Raw: Massive Funnel Clouds in Oklahoma
Raw: Japan's WWII Atrocities Under Fire in Seoul
Voters Could Elect LA's First Female Mayor
Huge Tornado Kills Dozens Near Oklahoma City
Raw: Rescuers Pull Tornado Survivors to Safety
Oklahoma Gov: 'Hearts Are Broken' After Tornado
Raw: Walking in a Flattened Okla. Neighborhood
Raw: Rescue Workers Search Oklahoma School
Raw: Witness Describes Scene After Okla. Tornado
Raw: Aftermath of Massive Tornado in Oklahoma
Raw: House Burns After Massive Oklahoma Tornado
Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma
Split-second Choice Ended With NY Student Dead
White House Backs 'Shield Law' for Media
Wave of Attacks Kills Scores in Iraq
Pug Life on Display at Wisconsin Festival
Company Promises to Make All Snail Mail Digital
Analyst: Tumblr Fills Void in Yahoo's Offerings
