JACKSON —
For the first time in 25 years, Picayune will take to the practice field for preseason training camp as the defending state champions. The Maroon Tide, along with just about every other prep football team in the state of Mississippi, will begin fall drills in the heat of the Summer on Monday.
Head coach Dodd Lee said his reigning Class 5A state champions will hit the field at 7 a.m., and again at 5:30 p.m., for two a day drills. Picayune will keep that schedule, weather permitting, for the first week of camp. “I just want to make sure our kids are in excellent shape conditioning wise,” Lee, entering his 17th season at the helm of his alma mater, said. “We just have to keep a good attitude and try and get better every practice, every day.”
The Maroon Tide set a school record for wins in a season last year with 13, as Picayune went 13-2 and beat Starkville in the Class 5A state championship game at Veteran's Memorial Stadium in Jackson on the first Saturday in December.
Most pre-season observers have picked the Maroon Tide and Yellow Jackets as favorites once again to possibly meet in a re-match for the state crown. Starkville quarterback Gabe Myles was named to the prestigious Dandy Dozen team as selected annually by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger this past week. Picayune beat arch-rival Pearl River Central in the Class 5A South State title game, in an historical Pearl River County match-up.
The Blue Devils finished 9-5 and made it further into the postseason than at any other time in school history. They will begin practice under third year head coach Eric Collins on Monday as well.
Also, Poplarville, which finished 5-5 last year, as well as Hancock will begin practice Monday as well.
Sports
Related Photos
-
Picayune head coach Dodd Lee and his defending Class 5A state football champions begin practice on Monday. Curtis Rockwell
Prep football practice begins Monday
- Sports
-
-
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. -
Tide sweeps; Devils swept
Picayune swept Pearl to advance in the Class 5A South State prep baseball playoffs over the weekend while Pearl River Central got swept by Stone County.
-
Lady Hornets stop North Pike 10-0
Poplarville remained unbeaten in the Class 4A South State fast-pitch prep softball playoffs Friday night.
-
Playoffs resume on diamond
Pearl River’s Lady Wildcats will take on Itawamba’s Lady Indians at 2 p.m. Saturday in opening-round action of the MACJC State Softball Tournament at South Division champ Mississippi Gulf Coast CC in Perkinston.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Wildcats tring to win Region 23 title
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
Raw: School Bus Crash Injures Five Children
Quick Response Saved Baby on Phila. Train Tracks
One Million Evacuated As Cyclone Hits Bangladesh
