A season filled with ups and downs ended on a high note for Picayune and Pearl River Central’s football programs this year whose players made up nearly a third of the All-Region 5-4A First and Second teams.

Over the course of his career at Picayune, Head Coach Dodd Lee created a legacy of success with multiple state championships and consistent playoff appearances.

This year, the Maroon Tide had 17 players elected on both the All-Region 5-4A First and Second Teams, which is tied with Hattiesburg for the most in the district.

Headlining the All-Region 5-4A First-Team is Picayune’s senior running back Josh Littles who steered the Tide offense with an average of 184.5 rushing yards per game and 25 touchdowns throughout the season.

Other members of the first-team from Picayune are Connor Ruffin, Blake Merrifield, Tyler Penton, Shaun Anderson, Louis Graham, Javonte Raymond, David Baker, Brian Taylor and Cole Bean.

Although Pearl River Central was unable to pave a path to the post-season in one of the most talented districts in Mississippi 5A football, they did have the third most players (11) represent the All-Region 5-4A First and Second Teams.

Blue Devils Diante Lenoir came into the offensive scene for PRC in the third week of the season, but made an immediate impact when Head Coach Larry Dolan decided to play him on both sides of the ball. The Devils utilized Lenoir’s athleticism in multiple ways offensively throughout the year. With only nine games under his belt, Lenior was able to rush for 784 yards and 10 touchdowns, while leading PRC in receiving with 772 yards and seven touchdowns. The next leading receiver was tight end Cade Lee—who also made the All-Region 5-4A First-Team roster—with 468 yards and a solo touchdown.

Devils linebacker Seth Orgeron joined Lenior and Lee on the first team list, leading the Devils with 79 total tackles on the season along with one interception and one fumble recovery, which he returned 42 yards for a touchdown in PRC’s 34-29 victory over Forrest County Agricultural.

Other PRC players that made the All-Region 5-4A First-Team are Tyler Kellar, Lewis Reese, Orlando Malley, A.J. Banks and Triston Anderson.

The Picayune players who earned All-Region 5-4A Second-Team honors are Skyler Bowman, Benny Holifield, Jacob Brumley, Jortin Raine, Jerimiah Stallings, Ronald Polk, Chris Magee and Rashard Johnson.

PRC’s Wyatt Davis, Michael Tatman and Brennan Duplechain also made the All-Region 5-4A Second-Team.