PASCAGOULA — In a little less than four seasons, Picayune head coach Cody Stogner has accomplished quite a bit.
He added to that list Friday night.
Stogner’s Maroon Tide brought a flood with it into War Memorial Stadium and washed home-standing Pascagoula away 51-14 in the Region 4-6A opener for both teams.
The win moves the back-to-back defending Class 5A state champion Picayune to 4-2 overall on the season, and Pascagoula fell to 4-2 with the loss.
It was Stogner’s first ever win over Pascagoula as a head coach, after PHS upset then unbeaten Maroon Tide 42-35 three years ago in his first year at the helm of his alma mater. It was also Picayune’s 15th consecutive region win.
“Just extremely proud of my guys,” Stogner said. “They told me they were ready to rock and roll after a week off and two weeks of practice, and they came out and proved that.”
In the midst of a downpour, Picayune wasted no time in jumping out to a quick advantage it would never relinquish.
Pascagoula quarterback Silas Corder dropped a slippery ball on the first PHS possession deep in their own territory, as Picayune’s Tristen Cooper recovered at the Panther three.
Picayune quarterback Brady Robertson kept on a 1-yard sneak a minute later to open the scoring and make it 7-0.
Maroon Tide defender Brandon Parker picked off a Corder pass on the next PHS series, and Picyune’s Darrell Smith plunged in from.a yard out four
plays later to make it 14-0 on the first play of the second stanza.
Maroon Tide Dandy Dozen linebacker Jamonta Waller then blocked a Panther punt in the end zone to end Pascagoula’s next offensive series, and the ball went skipping out of play for a safety and a 16-0 Picayune lead.
The onslaught continued, as on the ensuing Maroon Tide series Smith added a four-yard touchdown run and Niquis Ratcliff then added an 87-yard scoring scamper to make it 30-0 Picayune with four minutes left in the first half.
Pascagoula waited until the last play of the first half to break into the scoring column when Jaden Webb picked up a Picayune fumble deep in PHS territory and raced 98 yards for a touchdown. Corder kept for the two-point conversion making the count 30-8 at halftime.
Any hopes of a PHS comeback were quickly laid to rest in the third frame, when after forcing Pascagoula to turn the ball over on downs at the Panther 40 Smith streaked 39 yards for yet another touchown to extend Picayune’s lead to 37-8 and pretty much secure the win for the Maroon Tide.
With the decision already decided, Corder hit Darrius Carter on a 39-yard scoring strike and both J.B. McWilliams and Jeremiah Conti added touchdowns for Picayune.
Both teams remain in league play next week, as Picayune hosts West Harrison while Pascagoula heads to Long Beach.
