Prep Football: Maroon Tide hammers the Hawks for 26th straight region win

Picayune running back Jordan Hathorne heads toward the end zone on a run Friday night vs. Hancock. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

PICAYUNE — Perennial state power Picayune has won four state championships and played for another over the past 14 years.
But what the Maroon Tide is doing currently in region play may be just as impressive.

Picayune running back Xavier Dennis breaks into open space Friday night vs. Hancock. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Hancock quarterback Kaison Koenenn manages to get off a pass under pressure Friday night vs. Picayune. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Picayune running back Xavier Dennis surveys the situation Friday night vs. Hancock. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Picayune’s Grayson Aulds delivers a blow to Hancock ball carrier Majia Talley Friday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Picayune captured its 26th consecutive league win Friday night hammering Hancock 59-28 at home in Lee-Triplett Stadium. The win keeps the Maroon Tide perfect at 2-0 in the region race so far this season, and head coach Cody Stogner’s crew moves to 6-1 overall.
Maroon Tide running back Xavier Dennis ran roughshod over the Hawk defense to the tune of 15 carries for 325 yards and three touchdowns, while his running partner Jordan Hathorne added 95 yards rushing and two touchdowns as well as Picayune ran for almost 500 yards on the night.

Picayune running back Xavier Dennis looks for running room Friday night vs. Hancock. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Picayune defensive lineman Nolan Wilson closes in on Hancock’s Justin Wedgeworth Friday night. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Hancock quarterback Kaison Koenenn looks for an open target Friday night vs. Picayune. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Hancock’s Aspen Favre holds on to a catch Friday night vs. Picayune. (Photo by Brian Edward Smith)

Picayune quarterback Colt Robertson joined his backfield mates by throwing for just over 100 yards and two touchdowns, one each to Dennis and Ontario Wilkins.

Hancock drops to 1-1 in the region race and 2-5 overall.

Picayune, which hasn’t lost a league game since the end of the 2020 season, is aiming for its fifth straight region title which would add to its current program record. The Maroon Tide won state championships in 2011 and 2013 under legendary head coach Dodd Lee, and then captured back-to-back state titles in 2021 and 2022 for the only team in school history under current head coach Stogner who played for Lee at Picayune.