One of the biggest games in Pearl River County this season took place Friday night between the Poplarville Hornets and the Picayune Maroon Tide. In what was possibly one of the biggest blockbuster season openers in recent history, the Hornets came out victorious.
Poplarville came into Friday night winless against Picayune since 1976, but that didn’t stop the swarm as the team achieved a 27-24 victory over the Maroon Tide.
Hornets’ tailback Austin Bolton appears to have done his homework in the offseason after opening with a 73-yard touchdown run on his first handoff of his senior year.
“We are out to prove a point this year,” Bolton said. “I feel like I am one of the most underrated running backs in the state. I think I should be on top of the list.”
Bolton proved he may deserve a bump up the list after finishing the game with 200 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
However, to begin the game, Poplarville found themselves down early after Tide wideout V.J. Holt bounced to the outside on a sweep to find the left pylon to give Picayune a 14-7 lead in the first quarter, following a six-yard run by Tide’s tailback Jortin Raine.
But the Hornets’ offensive line never quit, opening multiple holes for Bolton to cap his second touchdown in a 63-yard run.
“That [offensive] line is special. They did a great job and kept pounding,” Poplarville Head Coach Jay Beech said.
After going into halftime trailing 24-13, the Hornets came back to the second half rejuvenated, ending in a 37-yard rushing touchdown by Bolton.
The excitement Bolton exuded after that touchdown run filled the Hornets’ defense, forcing multiple punts. Then, Roosevelt Raine contributed to the scoreboard, rushing 37-yards for the game-winning touchdown with 4:15 left in the third quarter. Poplarville hosts Pearl River Central next Friday.
Picayune hosts 6A D’Iberville next Friday.