Picayune’s Preston Dedeaux is the Player of the Year in Region 4-5A.
File photo

By Curtis Rockwell

Picayune Item

Class 5A state champion Picayune dominated the Region 4-5A all-district team.

Picayune, the Class 5A state champion, earned the top two honors with the Coaching Staff of the Year and Player of the Year in senior running back Preston Dedeaux. Dedeaux capped an outstanding high school career with his best season, running 282 times for 2,043 yards to help lead the Maroon Tide to the state title.

Head coach Dodd Lee directed Picayune (12-2) to its second state championship in the last three seasons. The fellow coaches in the region, however, opted to give an overall “Staff” of the year as opposed to just a coach, due in part to the Maroon Tide winning their second state title in three seasons.

The region had Co-Offensive Players of the Year this season with Pascagoula senior offensive tackle Keith Crawford and Stone High running back Justin Smith sharing the honors.

Crawford’s strong senior season made him one of the rare offensive linemen to win such an honor.

Smith led Stone (6-6) with 180 carries for 1,446 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Pascagoula defensive tackle Jauan Collins was the lone junior to earn an individual honor as the region’s Defensive Player of the Year.

Collins had 70 tackles, including a whopping 21 for lost yardage.

Pascagoula won the regular season Region 4-5A title with a 10-2 and 7-0 mark. The Panthers were one of only two teams to beat Picayune.

Picayune had the most players selected to the all-district team with 11.

All-region selections, by team:

Picayune (11): TE Alex Aaron, RB Deandre Anderson, CB Kardarius Cross, S Jordan Dedeaux, RB Preston Dedeaux, OL Ethan Frierson, KR/ATH Daveon Greene, OLB Gerrell Keaton, DL Chance Kellar, OL Demarcus Haralson, DL Hunter Smith.

Pascagoula (10): DL Caleb Caston, DL Jauan Collins, OL Keith Crawford, QB Drew Dunn, WR Mathew Eaton, DL Marshean Joseph, OL Deontre McInnis, WR Jaylen Smith, K/P Montie Smith, DB Travarious Williams

Gautier (4): S Gerald McGee, CB Isaiah Swopes, OL Zach Thweatt, ILB Dante Tubbs

Stone (4): OLB Caleb Amacker, QB Clayton Johnson, OL Malik Moore, RB Justin Smith

East Central (3): OL Brandon Archey, ILB Dylan Davis, RB Jake Eaker

George County (2): OL Luke Broadhead, ILB Austin Evans

Long Beach (1): OL Ryan Hayes

West Harrison (1): OL Javin Saucier