D’IBERVILLE – Picayune used a potent running game and a stout defense in rolling over D’Iberville Friday night, 42-7 at Warrior Stadium.
Picayune pretty much dominated the line of scrimmage with the offensive line opening some big holes for running backs Chris Davis, Darrell Smith, and Nykee Ratcliff who combined to run up nearly 300 yards on the ground.
“Our o-line came out and played the way we expect them to play each week,” said Maroon Tide head coach Cody Stogner.
But Stogner said his team still has plenty of room for improvement.
“We have to clean up some things, get rid of the fumble bug we’ve had lately,” Stogner said. “We need to control what we like to call the controlables, like unforced penalties and holding onto the ball.”
But he was proud of the effort from the Maroon Tide (2-1), who were coming off a tough one-point loss last week that snapped a 27-game win streak.
“It could have gone bad and gotten away from us,” Stogner said. “But we fought through it and our defense made some plays.”
Kyler King’s interception set up the Maroon Tide’s first score.
Picayune took a 7-0 lead with 7:47 to play in the opening quarter when Ratcliff scored on an 8-yard run up the middle and Jamal Simmons added the point after.
D’Iberville (0-3) controlled the time of possession in the first quarter, but that was about all they controlled. The Warriors had an opportunity to put points on the board after recovering a Chris Davis punt and drove to the Tide 26, but turned the ball over on downs.
The Maroon Tide added to their lead in the second quarter when Smith took a pitch and raced 44 yards for the score. Simmons added the try with 7:07 to play in the quarter.
Picayune pushed the margin to 21-0 when quarterback Brady Robertson scored from a yard out to cap a 45-yard 7-play drive that included Davis dragging Warrior tacklers 20 yards to the 1-yard line with 3:24 left in the half.
Picayune made it a 28-0 game at the half when Robertson hit Davis on a 24-yard scoring strike as time expired that capped a 77-yard drive. The possession was highlighted by Robertson completing a toss to Davis as he was being sacked and Davis took off 32 yards to the D’Iberville 35. Picayune initially lined up for a 41-yard field goal after the Warriors held them with :07 left before the half. But the Warriors called a time out and the Tide decided to keep the offense on the field where Robertson found a streaking Davis for a 24-yard TD.
Ratcliff scored his second TD of the night on an 8-yard run up the middle with 9:26 to play in the third quarter that capped an 87-yard, 6-play drive that was highlighted by a 33-yard run by Smith and a15-yard personal foul by the Warriors.
Stogner then emptied his bench the rest of the game.
Running back Triston Cooper capped the Maroon Tide scoring with a 4-yard run. Simmons added his sixth extra point with 3:23 to play in the game.
D’Iberville, who handed Picayune their last loss to an in-state team two years ago, managed to score on the final play of the game when Jayquan Havard scored on a 34-yard run. Jackson Callegari kicked the extra point.
The Warriors will host Pascagoula Friday, while Picayune travels to Gulfport.
