The Picayune Maroon Tide struggled to contain a potent Gulfport offense on Friday night, falling 41-21 at home. Despite moments of promise, turnovers and missed opportunities hindered Picayune’s efforts to keep pace with the Admirals.

The Maroon Tide had a promising start, driving into the red zone on their first possession, but a missed field goal ended the opening series without points. Picayune’s defense kept Gulfport off the scoreboard in the first quarter, forcing a fumble at their 25-yard line, recovered by Triston Cooper (#5).

In the second quarter, Gulfport found momentum, as Dakoreyon Payton (#6) rushed for the game’s first touchdown to give the Admirals a 7-0 lead. After a turnover on downs by Picayune, Cooper Crosby (#5) extended Gulfport’s lead to 14-0 with a long touchdown run.

Picayune responded midway through the second quarter. Darrell Smith (#4) led the Maroon Tide down the field with several intense rushes, finishing the drive with a 5-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, closing the gap to 14-7.

However, Gulfport immediately countered with another big play, as Crosby broke free for an 80-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Admirals ahead 21-7 before halftime. Picayune had a chance to narrow the lead when Cooper intercepted a Gulfport pass with just 21 seconds left in the second quarter, but the Maroon Tide couldn’t capitalize before time expired.

Picayune’s defense struggled to contain Gulfport in the third quarter. A 20-yard touchdown pass from Tre’Von Deans (#3) and a 92-yard rushing touchdown by Crosby widened the gap to 34-7, putting Picayune in a difficult position going into the final quarter.

The Maroon Tide showed some fight in the fourth quarter when Smith caught a 33-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 34-14. However, Gulfport’s Crosby scored his third touchdown of the night, extending the lead to 41-14 with just over two minutes remaining. Smith later returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap, as the game ended 41-21 in favor of Gulfport.

Picayune Head Coach Cody Stogner was candid about his team’s need for improvement: “We just have to get better. We have to get better at coaching and playing. We are a good football team, but we have to put it together for 48 minutes. We have to block better and tackle better. Our effort there at times was not there, and it’s all about wanting to.”

Despite the loss, Picayune will look to regroup and fix the mistakes before traveling to Ocean Springs next week.