Picayune came into Friday’s Region 8-4A game against homestanding Bay High averaging almost 41 points per game.

The Maroon Tide had that covered by halftime.

For the second straight week, Picayune exploded out to a commanding first half lead and rolled to a 42-0 win over the Tigers. Last week, Picayune also scored 42 points in the first half in a win over St. Stanislaus.

With the win, fourth ranked Picayune moves to 7-1 overall and 4-0 in league play. Bay High falls to 2-5 overall and 1-3 in league action.

Bay High botched the opening kickoff and Picayune recovered the loose ball at the Tiger 22. Maroon Tide quarterback Jacob Kennedy scrambled that distance for a score on the first play from scrimmage, and Picayune was up 7-0 nine seconds into the game.

“I know they didn’t want to get started with that kickoff,” Picayune head coach Dodd Lee, who began his head coaching career at Bay High, said. “Getting started quickly like that can be a key if you keep it up. I’m happy we did and got the win and came out of this game healthy.”

After a short Bay High punt, Picayune was moving again as T’Daryl Grays ran 36 yards to the Bay 25 and two plays later took off on a 25 yard scoring scamper to make it 14-0 three minutes into the game.

Picayune’s Jon Billups recovered a fumble, and Reggie Bailey and Jarrod Jones each had good runs setting the Tide up for a 3-yard touchdown plunge by Jones that made the count 22-0 at the end of the first quarter. Jonathan Hickman tossed the two point conversion to Jones after the snap was high.

“We try to take the same kind of attitude into every game. The coaches teach us not to overlook anybody,” Bailey,, the versatile two-way standout for Picayune, said. “Getting ahead early like we did helps us take the momentum in the game right away.”

The points kept coming as the second quarter unfolded for Picayune, as Jamal Hall raced 24 yards to the Tiger four and then covered that distance for the score on the next play.

Kennedy had a good run on Picayune’s next series down to the Bay High 30, setting u p a 26-yard scoring strike as he hooked up on a slat pattern with Jonathan Moore putting Picayune up 36-0 mid-way through the second stanza.

The Maroon Tide ended the scoring when fullback Gabe Hinojosa burst through the middle of the line on a draw play and raced untouched 66 yards for a score. The Tide scored on its first six possessions.

“We spread the ball around a lot and try and get everybody involved,” Bailey said. “Teams can’t defend against just one player.”

The Maroon Tide rushed for over 300 yards in the first half alone.

Nick Riso booted four extra points for the Tide.

Lee inserted his reserves into the game before halftime, and the officials allowed the clock to run almost continuously in the second half.

Picayune returns home this week to celebrate Homecoming against Long Beach. The Maroon Tide and unbeaten D’Iberville meet in two weeks for the league championship.