Picayune Item Sports Editor Curtis Rockwell and Item Managing Editor Will Sullivan were both recently honored with first place awards in the 2011 Mississippi Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Rockwell captured first place in the Game Story category for his story on the Class 5A South State football championship game between Pearl River County rivals Picayune and Pearl River Central.

The judges said “Game story included nice mixture of quotes and breaking down how the scoring occurred in reasonable fashion. Plenty of stats and focus placed on what the game meant to the players. Enjoyed the lead to the article.”

The story began “Picayune turned the day after Thanksgiving into Black and Blue Friday for arch-rival Pearl River Central…”

Picayune won the game 45-10.

It was the fourth time in the past five years that Rockwell won first place in the game story category in the Daily C Division. He finished second in the other year.

Sullivan won first place for General Interest Column. The judges said. “Writes with authority and clarity but also keeps a fun read. Strong opinions stoutly defended, or maybe it was just that Mark Twain mustache!”

Also, Item staff writer Jeremy Pittari placed second in the Investigative or in-depth reporting story category for his article on city pay.