By Stan Caldwell/Sports Writer

HATTIESBURG — Hattiesburg waited a full year for another crack at Pascagoula in the Class 6A football playoffs.

And when they got the chance, the Tigers didn’t let it go to waste, avenging last year’s 7-6 first-round defeat to the Panthers with an authoritative 33-17 victory Friday night in the quarterfinal round of the 6A playoffs at D.I. Patrick Stadium.

HHS remained undefeated at 12-0 and advanced to the South State finals at Picayune next week. ‘Goula finished its season 9-3.

“They did a great job on defense, and got us out of our rhythm and our game plan,” said Pascagoula coach Lewis Sims. “It was a tough night for the Panthers, but all the credit to Tony Vance and his team He’s got a heck of a ball club.

“I’m sad for our guys, because they played so hard and they put do much into this thing, but at the end of the day, they did what it took to win this game.”

Sims knew the Panthers would need to steal a possession or two, and they did that right at the beginning of the game, recovering an onside kick at midfield.

But Pascagoula got a taste of the formidable Tiger defense, when senior Kevin Oatis burst through to sack senior quarterback Silas Corder for a 6-yard loss on third down.

Not only did Hattiesburg get the three-and-out, but a partially-blocked punt set the Tigers up at their own 47-yard-line, and they promptly marched down the field for a touchdown, using 10 plays to cover the 53 yards.

Senior quarterback Deuce Vance capped the drive, scoring on a 2-yard run after runs of 10 and 9 yards to get Hattiesburg inside the Panther 5.

Vance proved to be hard to stop all night for ‘Goula, running 21 times for 105 yards and three touchdowns. He also completed 8 of 16 passes for 128 yards and two TD passes.

“He’s slippery as an eel,” said Sims. “That’s what we saw on tape. He’s just a really good football player. He’s a Division I guy and I can’t wait to coach him in the Mississippi-Alabama game.”

Corder’s difficulties with the Hattiesburg defense continued on the next series, after the Tigers’ attempt at an onside kick was negated by an illegal touching call when the ball didn’t travel the required 10 yards.

Starting at the Hattiesburg 34, Corder’s fourth-down pass was picked off by Tiger senior John Tarvin, who carried the pick to the Tiger 45.

From there, the Tigers needed just seven plays to dent the end zone once again, Vance scoring from 8 yards out.

Two big pass plays of 13 and 14 yards to senior Tyree Barnett, plus a face-mask penalty got HHS in position to score. The kick for the conversion was no good, but Hattiesburg was off to a 13-0 start.

D’lass Nunnery’s 43-yard kickoff return finally got the Panthers going offensively, and they cashed it in on a four-play, 42-yard touchdown drive, scoring on a 19-yard pass play to junior Amarie Jackson.

After getting a defensive stop, Pascagoula embarked on what would be its best drive of the night, an eight-play, 78-yard march. The big play was a 29-yard pass from Corder to junior Darius Carter to the Tiger 1. Junior Jarred Loper scored from there two plays later.

Corder had a decent first half, but his second half was a nightmare. After completing 11 of 21 passes for 186 yards in the first half, he was held to just 3 of 14 for 50 yards in the second half, and he was picked off four times in all.

“They have a great team, and they’re well-coached,” said Corder. “We wanted it to go our way, but they did some things that stopped us from doing what we wanted to do, and I commend them for that. This was a great team we played tonight.”

Senior Mason Cramer’s PAT kick put ‘Goula ahead for the first time, 14-13, and the Panthers had a chance to pad that lead when they recovered another onside kick at the Hattiesburg 45.

But three plays only netted 9 yards, and Corder’s sneak attempt on fourth down was snuffed out for no gain.

“That was a big part of the game,” said Sims. “The turnovers, the interceptions, which we hadn’t been doing all season. And it was a tough night up front. Hattiesburg did a really good job.”

And the Tigers wasted little time regaining the lead after the fourth-down stop, needing just five plays to score.

Vance converted a third down near midfield, then got a stroke of luck two plays later, when his pass caromed off a helmet into the hands of junior Tristan Keys, who burst into the open field and dashed untouched to the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown.

The try for two was no good, but Hattiesburg led 19-14, and would never trail again.

Hattiesburg gave Corder a rude reception when play resumed after halftime, as Tarvin got his second interception of the game on the Panthers’ fourth play after the opening kickoff of the second half, and returned the theft 47 yards to the ‘Goula 14.

The Tigers cashed it in after Vance was stopped for a 12-yard loss on third down to the 25-yard-line, as Vance delivered a fourth-down strike to Barnett for a touchdown and a 25-14 lead.

A 37-yard pass from Corder to Carter moved the Panthers from their own 32 to the Hattiesburg 30, and drove to the Tiger 13, but the drive stalled and Pascagoula settled for a 30-yard field goal by Cramer.

Corder would only complete two more passes the rest of the game for just 13 yards as the Tigers clamped down on defense.

“They switched some things around,” said Corder. “They started running some stunts with their d-linemen and some changes in coverage. Ultimately, we had opportunities and we didn’t capitalize.”

Following the field goal, Hattiesburg stuck mostly to the ground, using up more than five minutes off the clock on a 61-yard, 10-play scoring drive, with Vance scoring from 15 yards out, giving the Tigers a 33-17 lead with 10:24 to play in the game.

Pascagoula had three more possessions, but all three ended with stops in Panther territory.

Although the outcome was disappointing, Corder had nothing but good things to say about the Panthers’ season as a whole.

“I’m blessed to have had the senior season I’ve had,” said Corder, who has signed with Southern Miss. “I give it all to the coaches around me, and I’m excited about going to the next level. I can’t say enough positives about Pascagoula.”