The Maroon Tide football team was riding high after a 55-0 victory over Gautier two weeks ago as they traveled to Hattiesburg last Friday to face the Tigers.

Picayune lost the previous two matches to Hattiesburg, but they weren’t going to be denied again as the team dominated from the get-go.

Picayune got off to a hot start with quarterback Jakail Meyers scoring a long rushing touchdown with eight minutes still to play in the first quarter.

The offense would keep its foot on the gas pedal as the defense smothered the Tigers en route to a 48-15 victory.

Picayune was leading 14-0 in the second quarter when Hattiesburg got on the board with a rushing touchdown from running back Tomacio Robinson.

However, Picayune responded quickly with another touchdown of their own as fullback Kade Turnage took the ball in from 21 yards out.

The teams went into halftime with the Maroon Tide leading 21-6.

Picayune took the opening possession of the third quarter down the field and scored again as Meyers powered in from one yard out.

Austin Samples made most of his extra point attempts in the game, but missed as the Maroon Tide led 27-6.

The Tigers didn’t lay down, and brought the lead down to 15 points after running back Rhyen Brisco scored.

The two-point attempt failed, leaving Picayune ahead 27-12 with only a few minutes left in the third quarter.

Running back Cameron Thomas broke a 54-yard run for a touchdown to give Picayune a 34-12 lead, before the Maroon Tide scored another 14 points in the fourth quarter to close out the game.

Offensively, the ground game continues to be the Maroon Tide’s bread and butter.

Offensive line play has been a strong suit for Picayune, and running back Cameron Thomas has been taking advantage all season.

Thomas once again gouged the opponent’s defense, with the Tigers being the victim this time as Thomas ran for 216 yards.

The playmaker would also account for three of Picayune’s seven touchdowns as the Maroon Tide ran rampant over the Tigers. There were two fumbles, one by Meyers and one by Thomas, but the defense was able to make up for the miscues with some big plays of its own.

Linebacker Isaac Hickman had a sack and interception as the defense stifled the Hattiesburg offense.

Kade Turnage led the team in tackles with 12, but linebacker Blake Mitchell and defensive tackle Deonta Reed also got in on the action combining for 16 total tackles. It was an important district win for Picayune who now is tied atop the district with Wayne County for the best record in district games. Picayune will take its undefeated record into its next game, which will be at home against Long Beach, who lost last week to Pearl River Central. The game will take place at 7 p.m. on Oct. 18.