Picayune double-crossed visiting Friday night.

Playing  for the third straight game in Region 4-5A action without standout tailback Preston Dedeaux, the top-ranked Maroon Tide turned to brothers Doug and Kardarrius Cross to lead them past the Tigers, 41-26.

Doug, who also starts at defensive end, ran for 216 yards and three touchdowns  and Kardarrius, who also starts at cornerback, added two scoring runs as Picayune moved to 7-0 on the year and took sole possession of first place in the league at 4-0.

The win was the 14th straight for the defending Class 5A state champion Maroon Tide, since a 35-29 loss last year at Moss Point.

“Mos  Point has a very good team, they have some great skill people on offense and they gave us some trouble at times,” veteran Picayune head coach Dodd Lee said.  “We found a wrinkle or two in their scheme on defense that we were able  to take advantage of in the second half.”

The Tigers fall to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in region play.

“They  are the number one team in the state for a reason,” Moss Point head coach Kevin Jackson said. “We made too many mental mistakes to have a chance to win the game.”

Picayune led 14-0 at halftime, thanks to a 5-yard scoring run by each one of the Cross brothers in the first half.

But  the Tigers rallied, and tied the game at 14-14 in the third quarter, thanks to an 85-yard scoring scamper by Thomas Nettles and a 5-yard scoring strike from Anthony Mitchell to Nettles.

The tie lasted 37 seconds.

The Maroon Tide responded with a two play, 56 yard scoring drive that ended in a 19-yard scoring run by Kardarrius Cross.

“We  just knew we needed to be more physical and go back out and establish ourselves again,” Doug Cross said. “I knew that I had to step up in the past few  weeks with Preston out. We are all working as a team together.”

That score would begin a stretch in which Picayune scored three touchdowns in less than seven minutes to put the game away.

Desmond  Taylor added a 35-yard scoring run on the Tide’s next drive, and then Doug Cross broke loose on a 66-yard touchdown jaunt just minutes later to put Picayune up 34-14 with 7:42 to play.

“The backs are running hard and doing a good job for us,” Lee added. “And the offensive line is always the key.”

Keyshun Wells added a five yard scoring run for Moss Point and Doug Cross added a four yard touchdown run for Picayune in the waning moments.

Mitchell threw for 177 yards, completing 12-of-21 passes, for Moss Point.

Moss  Point hosts Pearl River Central Friday in a battle for second place in the region, while Picayune travels to East Central on the same night.