In early November, the Picayune youth football team—for ages 5-6—won the South Mississippi Youth Football Association Championship held at Hancock High School.

The Tide faced the Bay Tigers in the championship game, a team that previously handed the Tide their only two losses in the regular season. The Tide was 10-2 overall this season.

“Both previous losses were by six points so they were always close,” Picayune Coach Jacob McKinley said.

He said the coaches and players all looked forward to the challenge of playing against a team that bested them twice that year. The main reason they lost to the Bay Tigers earlier in the season was because of time management, McKinley said.

During the Super Bowl, Picayune fell behind with approximately 1:50 remaining in the game. However, they managed to rally a final score, taking a one-point lead and making a crucial defensive stand to hold on to the victory.

“The main goal of the coaches was to teach them the fundamentals and for them to enjoy the game of football,” McKinley said.

The coach said he was proud of how the kids never gave up. McKinley said determination is a great trait to have at an early age.

“This team is extremely tough mentally and physically. Not once did we have to take a kid out due to an injury. Of course they were hurting, but they refused to come out,” he said.

The final score of the Super Bowl was 13-12.