By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

NATCHEZ — Facing its fourth straight unbeaten opponent in the first four weeks of the season, Ocean Springs decided it was the right time to post its first win of the year.
The Greyhounds raced into Tom F. Williams Memorial Stadium here on the bluffs of the Mississippi River Friday night and galloped home with a convincing 49-16 win.
The win prevented Ocean Springs from starting a season off at 0-4 for the first time in 23 years, since the Greyhounds went 0-11 in 2001. The Class 5A Bulldogs fell to 3-1 with the loss.
Ocean Springs junior defensive back Eric Johnson got the Greyhounds rolling early in the game as he picked up a backwards lateral and ran it back 50 yds for the first score of the game at the 7:55 mark of the first period for a 7-0 OSHS lead.

Johnson later picked off an interception before halftime as well.
But by then, the Greyhounds were in complete control as Will Smith followed Johnson’s score with a 1-yard scoring run less than four minutes later to make it 14-0.
Mid-way through the second stanza, Jeremy Odie crashed into the end zone in for another OSHS score and that made it 21-0.
After a punt return to the Bulldog 10, Greyhound wide out Bryshen Smith completed the first half scoring with a 10-yard reverse to make it 28-0 at intermission.

In the second half, Greyhound quarterback Connor White threw the balll to Ian Harlan on a fourth and goal from the Natchez five for a score to make it 42-0.
After the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 42-16 with a running clock in play, Smith returned the ensuing kick off back 85 yards for a touchdown to complete the scoring in the 49-16 win.

Ocean Springs now returns home to welcome in perennial state power Picayune for Homecoming next week. The Maroon Tie, though, is off to an unusual2-2 start to a 2-2 start to the season after a 41-21 home loss to the Greyhounds’ Region 4-7A foe Gulfport Friday night.

The start is the worst in a season for Picayune since an 0-3 start in 2015. The Greyhounds, who beat Picayune 31-21 last season, will look for consecutive wins in consecutive seasons over the Maroon Tide for the first time in 30 years.