Picayune’s Maroon Tide shut out the Pearl River Central Blue Devils Friday night, taking home a win 54-0.

While the Tide demonstrated the reason they will host the first playoff game of their schedule, the Blue Devils slid back to a more unorganized version seen earlier in the season.

At times it was a heated game, with the Devils raking up eight penalties to the Tide’s five. Devils’ Head Coach Larry Dolan was ejected after two of those flags flew back to back in the second quarter due to his conferring with the referees for an extended period of time.

The Devils also had a hard time holding onto the ball, tallying four fumbles on the night.

“That first fumble down there when we were driving the ball kind of took our heart away and we couldn’t stop them,” Dolan said.

All four fumbles by the Devils led to Tide scores on the team’s subsequent possession, two of which ended with a touchdown after only one play.  The first Devils’ fumble occurred early in the second quarter. It would take the Tide eight plays to carry the ball 84 yards before running back David Baker carried the ball a yard to the end zone with 6:08 left in the second quarter.

The second fumble of the night occurred immediately after the Devils took possession of the ball in the subsequent play. The Tide took over at the Devils’ 35, and Shaun Anderson then toted it 35 yards for yet another score with 5:43 left in the third.

On the Devils third fumble, which took place in the third quarter, the Tide needed only four plays to carry the ball 55 yards to the one yard line, setting Anderson up for yet another touchdown with 4:17 left in the quarter.

After the final fumble by the Devils in the fourth quarter, on the next play fullback Brian Taylor would tote the ball about 50 yards for yet another touchdown with 6:22 left to play.

Baker also scored early in the game with a four yard run and 3:10 left to play in the first. Anderson had additional scoring plays in the second quarter for 17 yards with 2:06 left in the second quarter, and one other one yard play in the third quarter with 9:24 left.

Wide receiver Jortin Raine scored on a two-yard play in the fourth quarter with 10:12 on the clock.

One of three point after touchdown attempts by Tide kicker Sami Naji were successful, while three of four PAT attempts by Tide kicker Austin Samples were successful. A two-point conversion by Anderson in the second quarter after his 35-yard touchdown put the total score at 54-0.

Now that the season is over for the Blue Devils, Dolan has his eyes set on next year.

“We’re going to turn our stuff in Monday and start training Tuesday,” Dolan said.

Picayune Head Coach Dodd Lee is also looking ahead, but with a playoff game at home set for next week, he’s also preparing for the team the Tide will face. Friday night it wasn’t certain who the Tide would face, Lee had a prediction.

“I think it’s Laurel, and I know they’re going to have a good program and be well coached,” Lee said.