By Rusty Stockstill

Special to the Item

It was Homecoming at Dodd Lee Stadium as the Maroon Tide hosted the West Harrison Hurricanes. The Hurricanes received the opening kickoff and set up at their own 11 yard line.  Three plays later they were still on their own 11. The punt was only 15 yards and the Tide started their first drive of the game from the West Harrison 26 yard line.  Picayune covered the 26 yards in 3 plays capped off by 5 yard touchdown run by Shaun Anderson.  Sami Naji converted the PAT to make the score 7-0 Picayune.  After 3 plays the Hurricanes were forced to punt again.  A high snap resulted in Picayune recovering the mishandled punt at West Harrison’s 18 yard line.  Two plays later Shaun Anderson scored his 2nd touchdown of the night from 5 yards out putting the Tide up 14-0 early in the 1st quarter after Sami Naji’s PAT was good.  West Harrison started their next drive from their own 35 yard line and found some success as Dayln Anderson completed passes to Jaden Williams for 9 yards and Jeremy Lane for 8 yards on consecutive plays. After an incomplete pass Dayln Anderson found Ahmad Gage for an 8 yard gain.  The Tide defense held its ground on 3rd down.  West Harrison decided to go for it on 4th and 2 with a q uarterback keeper but Dayln Anderson fumbled and Micheal Ferrier recovered for the Maroon Tide at the Tide 30 yard line.  Tyler Penton connected with Elijah Burton for 51 yard pass putting the Tide at the Hurricane 19 yard line.  On a toss sweep to the left Shaun Anderson scampered the 19 yards for an apparent touchdown but Picayune was called for holding bringing the play back.  On the next play Brian Taylor carried the ball up the middle for a 19 yard touchdown after Sami Naji’s PAT the Tide was in complete control leading 21-0 with 3:31 seconds still remaining in the 1st quarter.  West Harrison took over at their own 30 yard line but Brian Taylor sacked Dayln Anderson on 3rd down forcing the Hurricanes to punt.  Tyler Penton completed a pass to Ronald Polk on 1st down for a 33 yard gain.  Micheal Ferrier broke loose up the middle on the next play for a gain of 22 yards making it 1st and goal from the 5 yard line.  Jaurice Travis took the hand off going over the right tackle from 5 yards out for the touchdown.  Sami Naji kicked the PAT pushing Picayune up by a score of 28-0 to end the 1st quarter.  West Harrison mounted their next drive from their own 40.  Dayln Anderson completed back to back passes to Jeremy Lane for 8 yards and 18 yards respectively.  From 17 yards out Dayln Anderson found Darrian Brown in the end zone West Harrison’s first touchdown of the night.  Adam Ladner’s PAT was good making the score Picayune 28 West Harrison 7.  The Tide continued to control the line of scrimmage with a 9 play 62 yard drive capped off by a 1 yard plunge into the end zone by Jaurice Travis.  Naji’s PAT was good putting the Tide up 35-7.  The Tide defense stepped up again putting pressure on Dayln Anderson forcing 3 incomplete passes.  After a 40 yard punt by West Harrison the Tide took over at their own 31 yard line.  On 1st down Tyler Penton threw a strike to Peyton Esslinger running a slant pattern for a 59 yard gain to the Hurricanes 10 yard line.  Kade Turnage and Jaurice Travis carried the Tide to the 1 yard line.  On 4th and goal from the 1 Tyler Penton kept it up the middle for the touchdown and with Naji’s extra point the Tide was up 42-7 with 2:56 left in the 2nd quarter. On their next posession West Harrison found some success on as they moved the ball down to the Picayune 20. With a 4th and 2 to go for the 1str down Joel Washington hit pay dirt scoring from 20 yards out. Adam Ladner’s PAT was good closing the gap to 42-14 going into half time.  Picayune continued its domination to start the 2nd half grinding it out on the ground.  Shaun Anderson and Brian Taylor carried the Tide down the field resulting in Anderson scoring his 3rd touchdown of the night a busy Sami Naji converted the PAT making the score 49-14 in favor of the Tide.  The Tide defense continued to be stingy forcing the Hurricanes to punt again.  Picayune complete the scoring for the night when Jaurice Travis capped off a 7 play 73 yard drive with his 3rd touchdown of the night from the 1 yard line.  Tyler Penton was efficient completing all 3 of his pass attempts for a 143 yards.  Shaun Anderson rushed for 130 yards scoring 3 touchdowns and Jaurice Travis chipped in for 83 yards rushing also scoring 3 touchdowns. 

Coach Lee stated his team did a lot of good things Friday, but added that one on one tackling needed to improve and the team needs to continue to come together as a team.  Next week the Tide travels to Wiggins to take on a very good Stone County team.