The Maroon Tide continued their undefeated start to the season with a victory over the Poplarville Hornets.
Picayune started scoring early with a 65-yard touchdown run from running back Jaylen Hall.
Austin Samples’ extra point kick was good, and the Hornets found themselves in a 7-0 hole just over a minute into the game.
A quick three and out from Poplarville saw Trae Wilson punt the ball away.
Picayune took possession at their own 35.
Running back Cameron Thomas ripped off a 45-yard run to set the Maroon Tide up inside Poplarville territory.

A few plays later, fullback Kade Turnage powered the ball in for a 9-yard touchdown run, putting the score at 14-0 with 5:37 left in the first quarter.

The ensuing kickoff pinned Poplarville at their own 20, and a stifling Picayune defense saw Poplarville once again punt the ball.

Picayune received the ball with only 2:40 left in the first quarter and kept driving until a short run by Dawson Underwood put the Tide up 21-0 with 11:54 left in the second quarter.

A quick three and out from Poplarville saw Picayune having possession of the ball at their own 28.

Picayune kept chewing up the clock, and eventually running back Cameron Thomas took a hand off and went untouched for a 45-yard touchdown.

Another successful extra point saw the Maroon Tide up 28-0 with 8:32 left in the half.

The ensuing possession for Poplarville was cut short when running back Ethan Taylor fumbled the ball.

Picayune recovered the ball, but resulted in Isaac Hickman punting the ball and pinning Poplarville inside their own 20.

Turnovers continued to cost the Hornets with another fumble once again gifting possession to Picayune at the Poplarville 22.

The Maroon Tide wanted a touchdown, but a stingy Poplarville defense forced Picayune to settle for a field goal.

With just 2:38 left in the half, the Maroon Tide were up 31-0.

Picayune’s defensive tackle Deonte Reed was dominant inside, and helped the defense force another Hornet three and out.

After Poplarville punted Picayune had the ball on their own 41.

It only took two plays before quarterback Jakail Meyers hit wide receiver Jashawn Lee for a 57-yard touchdown pass down the sideline.

Meyers then took in a two-point conversion to give the Maroon Tide a 39-0 lead with just 51 seconds left in the half.

The Hornets went into halftime needing to regroup, and came out in the second half with renewed energy.

The Hornets received the ball to start the second half, and were driving into Picayune territory before another fumble sent the Hornet offense back to the sideline.

The teams traded possessions until late in the third quarter when the Hornets were able to put some points on the board.

A nine-play drive was capped off with a touchdown run by running back Greg Swann. The extra point attempt  by Zach Carpenter put the score at 39-7 with 1:27 left in the third quarter.

Picayune’s Dante Dowdell the bullied his way into the end zone on a 5-yard run, and the extra point attempt by Austin Samples was good, giving Picayune a 46-7 lead with 9:47 left in the fourth quarter.

Poplarville went three and out on the next possession and Picayune had the ball on their own 20-yard line.

The Tide kept pounding the ball, and went the full 80 yards capped off by a 20-yard touchdown run from running back Dorian Robinson.

Isaac Brice took the extra point, and it sailed through the uprights to give Picayune a 53-7 advantage with 1:24 left in the game.

The Hornets would score one more time to finish the game with running back Casin Sones running it in from 10-yards out with 13 seconds left in the game.

Sones also ran in the two point conversion, and the 53-15 score line would carry until the game ended.

Poplarville Head Coach Jay Beech said his team just didn’t perform well enough to earn the victory against an undefeated Maroon Tide team.

“We’re getting tested early, but I think we’re going to be ok. They were just bigger, faster and stronger than us tonight,” Beech said.

Picayune Head Coach Dodd Lee liked what he saw out of his team, but thinks there is still room for improvement as the Maroon Tide continue their dominant start to the season.

“We did a lot of good things, but I think we need to play with more intensity. We’ll give it our best,” Lee said.

The Hornets’ next game is at Forrest County Agricultural on Oct. 4 with kickoff set for 7 p.m.

Picayune will play at East Central on Sept. 27 with the game slated to begin at 7 p.m.