For the second straight season, Picayune had no problems making itself at home in unfamiliar surroundings.

The Maroon Tide made its first ever appearance in Poplarville’s new on campus Stadium Friday night, and came away with a convincing 59-14 win in Region 8-4 play.

The win pushes Picayune to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in league play, while the Hornets fall to 1-5 overall and 1-2 in the loop.

“We just wanted to come out and run our offense and set the tone,” Picayune head coach Dodd Lee said. “We thought if we could play our game and limit our mistakes we’d be in good shape.”

Last season, Picayune traveled to Madison Central for the first time ever and beat the homestanding Jaguars.

“We came in with nothing to lose,” Poplarville head coach Chris Teal said. “I didn’t think we played bad at times, but we made too many mistakes. You can’t make mistakes like we did against a good team like Picayune and expect to have a chance to win.”

Picayune got a pair of rushing touchdowns apiece from both Jarrod Jones and Jamal Hall, and Tide quarterback Jacob Kennedy threw for two scores as well.

The Tide jumped out to a 30-0 halftime lead and was never threatened.

“We are happy with what we’ve done so far,” Lee added, speaking of the Tide’s two league wins over Pearl River County rivals. “We just have to keep playing hard and getting better.”

Jones put Picayune ahead to stay early as he ran for a 13 yard score to end the Tide’s first possession.

Hall then got in on the scoring act on Picayune’s next possession, as he weaved his way 61 yards to paydirt. Kennedy hit Reggie Bailey for the two point conversion to make it 14-0.

“Both of them are doing a good job for us,” Lee added, about his back tandem.

The Tide continued to take control as the second stanza unfolded, as Hall added a 7-yard touchdown run and Kennedy found Chris Nixon on a perfect 25 yard fade pass in the corner of the end zone just before halftime.

The Maroon Tide also got a pair of safetys in the game due to bad snaps by the Hornets.

Jones rambled 77 yards for a score early in the third period, and Kennedy hooked up with Jonathan Moore on a 46 yard bubble screen pass for a touchdown later in the period to make the count 45-0 entering the fourth quarter.

With Picayune’s reserves in the game, Poplarville broke into the scoring column with a pair of short scoring runs by Tyler Holston and G.W. Miller.

The Tide countered with a 89 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Wayne McMooain and a 23 yard scoring rumble by Robert Jeansonne to end the scoring.

Both Jones and Hall enjoyed a good game carrying the ball, as Jones ran for 121 yards and the two scores while Hall added 100 yards and the two touchdowns.

Kennedy threw for 115 yards and the two scores as well.

Adam Thomas paced Poplarville on the ground with 86 yards rushing.

Picayune now faces unbeaten St. Stanislaus Friday in a key region game while Poplarville hosts Pearl River Central for Homecoming Friday.