Picayune secured a home playoff berth with a 49-35 win over visiting Stone County Friday night.

With the win Picayune, now 8-2 overall and 6-1 in Region 4-5A play, will host West Jones to open the Class 5A South State playoffs next week.

Picayune started off the game strong, scoring three touchdowns in the first quarter. Deandre Anderson started off the lead with a 27- yard touchdown. Kadarius Cross continued the lead with a 15-yard touchdown and Preston Dedeaux scored a touchdown from the 12 yard line, pushing the lead 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Stone got on the board in the second quarter with a 28- yard touchdown ran in by Evan Jagours, making the score 21-7.

Picayune answered back with a touchdown pass from Boderick Scott to Dalton Hedgepath, pushing the lead 28-7.

The Tomcats scored two more times in the half, with a 2-yard touchdown by Clayton Johnson and a touchdown from the 13 yard line by Justin Smith, making the score 28-21.

Picayune scored a final time in the first half with a field goal by Jackson Samples.

“First half I felt we did great” Picayune head Coach Dodd Lee said. “We had a chance to cut their throat for a minute but we didn’t do it and we gave up a couple of scores.”

Stone came ready to battle after half time,  with  Smith scoring a 67-yard touchdown at the beginning of the third quarter, making the score 31-28.

Picayune scored again with a touchdown from the 3 by Dedeaux followed by another field goal by Samples, pushing the lead 41-28. Dedeaux led the Tide with 179 yards.

Stone answered back in the fourth quarter, scoring a final time with a 70-yard touchdown pass from Clayton Johnson to Smith, making the score 41-35.

Picayune added to the lead for a final time with a touchdown run from the 11 by Daveon Green plus a two point conversion, making the final score 49-35.

Stone heads to Laurel to open the playoffs.

“Our kids played their hearts out and theirs did too,” Dodd said. “Stone played a great football game. We were very fortunate to come out with a win.”