By Joseph W. Gex II/Sports Writer

PASS CHRISTIAN — The Region 8-4 A champion Pass Christian Pirates (10-1) hosted the #4-seed South Pike Eagles in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs Friday night at McDonald Stadium. Pass Christian dispatched a pesky Eagles squad 52-32 after a relatively close first half of play on a muggy Friday night.

Pirate junior quarterback Paris Trivillion accounted for five total touchdowns as PCHS moves into the second round of the state playoffs for just the third time in program history.

The Eagles (3-7) started the game on offense but a stingy Pirate defense quickly forced a punt. However, the Pirate offense also struggled throwing an interception on the fourth play from scrimmage. 

The Eagles turned the ball over on downs and the Pirates began their second possession at their own 38-yard line. Paris Trivillion ripped off a 49-yard run on the first play from scrimmage down to the Eagle 18-yard line. Two plays later, Trivillion found Dwight Thomas for a seven-yard scoring aerial with 6:36 left in the first quarter. Kaidon Mooney converted the PAT to make the score 7-0.

Two holding penalties on the Eagles to start the ensuing possession put South Pike behind the sticks. Dondra Turner Jr kept the ball and gained 35 yards before Brandon Laneaux stripped the ball and recovered it near midfield. But, the Pirates were unable to capitalize on the Eagle turnover.

Two possessions later, the Eagles took over at their own three-yard line following a masterful punt from Mooney. The Pirate defense swarmed Turner collecting a team safety in the process with 11:04 left in the first half making the score 9-0.

Following the Eagles kick, the Pirates chipped away at the Eagle defense before Trivillion found Larkin Lewis for a 28-yard touchdown with 8:43 left in the first half. Mooney converted the PAT to make the score 16-0.

The Eagles found the endzone on the ensuing drive as Turner connected with Antwuan Adams for a 39-yard touchdown pass with 4:59 left before halftime. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 16-6.

The Pirates returned the ball to their 35-yard line following the kick. Trivillion found Lewis for seven yards and then called his own number for six more. Trivillion then found Amarie James for 23 yards to the Eagle 30-yard line. Two plays later, Trivillion kept the ball on a called draw play straight up the guts of the Eagle defense for a 30-yard scoring run with 2:48 left before halftime. Mooney’s PAT was blocked by Cordell Malone leaving the score 22-6.

On the ensuing possession, the Eagles tried a little trickery with a double-pass that resulted in a 20-yard gain to the Pirate 32-yard line. Four plays later, Turner hooked up with Missouri commit Micah Nickerson for a 28-yard scoring toss with no time left on the clock. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 22-12 at intermission.

The Pirates were set to open the second half on offense; however, Lewis had other plans when he picked up the ball on his own 10-yard line and returned it 90 yards for the score with 11:45 left in the third quarter. Mooney’s PAT was good making the score 29-12.

The Eagles answered on the ensuing possession when Turner found Kaleb Brumfield for a 22-yard scoring toss with 8:45 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion run was good by Douglas Wansley making the score 29-20.

The Eagle defense stiffened and forced a punt; however, they were intercepted on the ensuing drive by Thomas who returned the ball to the Eagle one-yard line. 

It took Trivillion just one play to find the ensdzone when he called his own number and rushed the ball in for a one-yard scoring run with 4:55 remaining in the third quarter. Ryland Shoulders scored the two-point conversion pushing the score to 37-20.

The Pirate defense forced another turnover when Stefan King Jr pounced on the loose ball at the Eagle 38-yard line.

Trivillion wasted little time as he fired a bullet to Lewis for a 38-yard scoring toss with 3:56 left in the third quarter. The PAT by Mooney was good making the score 44-20.

The Eagles bowed up and answered on the ensuing drive when Wansley exploded through the line for a 44-yard scoring run with 2;36 left in the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed leaving the score 44-26.

The teams swapped possessions before Ryland Shoulders scored on a 17-yard run with 8:28 left to play. Cecil Lizana scored the two-point conversion to make the score 52-26.

The Eagles put their best drive together when they went 80 yards on an 18-play drive that resulted in an 8-yard scoring toss from Turner to Nickerson with 37 seconds left to play. The failed two-point conversion left the final score 52-32.

Pass Christian head coach Jeff Stockstill commented, “We have played really well for four weeks in a row, so we were bound to have an off-night. However, to play an off-game and still win by three touchdowns is pretty solid. Next week, we cannot give up 30 points and expect to win. We made a ton of mistakes and we challenged the team at halftime to respond. To get a kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second half of play is really strong. We cannot play third and fourth-down defense like we did tonight. South Pike has a very scrappy team. Micah Nickerson is a SEC commit for a reason. We have a big job in front of us to get ready for next Friday night. The competition now stiffens so we need to survive and advance.”

The Pirates were led by Trivillion who had 10 carries for 99 yards and two touchdowns and threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Lewis caught four passes for 87 yards and two scores. 

South Pike rushed for 273 yards in the game and was led by Wansley who had 166 yards on 28 carries and two touchdowns. 

The Pirates will host Morton High School next Friday, November 14, for the second round for the Class 4A state playoffs. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.