By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

The big match-up in Region 4-6A is set after both perennial state power Picayune and contender to the throne George County both flashed their explosive offensive muscles Friday night.
In Picayune, the Maroon Tide jumped out to a quick and commanding 35-0 halftime lead and cruised to a 49-7 win over Long Beach at Lee-Triplett Stadium.
Head coach Cody Stogner’s crew stayed perfect in the region race at 3-0, and the Maroon Tide stand 7-2 overall.

Brandon Parker accounted for two touchdowns in the winning effort for the home team. From his quarterback spot, Parker hit Allan Magee on a 9-yard touchdown toss and from his spot in the secondary Parker picked off an errant Bearcat pass and returned it for a touchdown as well.
Darrell Smith scored on a 7-yard run and B.J. Ducre added an 11-yard scoring dash while Triston Cooper had a 33-yard scoring scamper for Picayune as well.

Maroon Tide back-up running back Xavier Dennis tallied a pair of scoring runs in the second half to complete the scoring for Picayune.
Long Beach is 0-3 in the region race and 2-7 overall.
Meanwhile, George County went on the road to West Harrison and handed the Hurricanes a 68-49 loss in league action.

The win moves the Rebels to 3-0 as well in Region 4-6A, and George County is 6-3 overall. This sets up the battle for supremacy in the region next week in Picayune when the Maroon Tide hosts the Rebels.
George County senior standout signal-caller Deuce Knight, an Auburn commit, accounted for nine of the 10 touchdowns on the night for the Rebels as he threw for seven scores and ran for two more. He also ran for a two-point conversion.

Knight’s TD tosses included throws from 80, 63, 56 and 45 yards and he also had a 68-yard scramble to set up one of his scoring runs. He threw for 538 yards and ran for another 113 yards to combine for over 650 yards of total offense to go with his nine scores.
The point total marked the most ever for the Rebels in the almost 100 year history of the program.
Rebel running back Branden Gautier chipped in a 10-yard scoring run as well
West Harrison falls to 0-3 in league play and 4-4 overall. The Hurricanes have never qualified for the state playoffs in the 15-year history as a football program.