By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

PASS CHRISTIAN — The Pass High Pirates (11-1) scored fast and often on their way to a 49-22 win over Morton in the second round of the Class 4A South State playoffs on Friday. The Pirates scored on each of their first six possessions.

Morton deferred to the second half, and the Pirates scored on their third play from scrimmage after Paris Trivillion completed two passes for good chunks of yardage. He connected with senior receiver Larkin Lewis for 18 yards and then went to Mario Burks for a 26-yard gain to the Pirates’ 14-yard line.

Junior running back Douglas White would score on a 14-yard carry on the third snap for the Pirates’ first score.

Morton fumbled on the ensuing kickoff return and the Pirates would recover at the Panthers’ 15-yard line. Three plays later, Cecil Lizana would score on a 2-yard carry to give the Pirates a 13-0 lead after three snaps from scrimmage with just under 10 minutes to play in the first quarter.

Morton would score on their ensuing possession to make it a 13-7 game, but that was as close as it would get the rest of the way. Pass would score again on the third snap of their next possession as Trivillion found Lewis past the defensive secondary for a 64-yard score and a 20-7 lead with four and a half minutes to play in the second quarter.

Pass’s defense got on the scoreboard on Morton’s next possession as senior cornerback Dwight Thomas returned an interception for a 60-yard ‘pick 6’ with a minute to play in the first quarter, giving the Pirates a 27-7 lead.

“The plan was to strike early and play with a lead,” said Pirates’ coach Jeff Stockstill. “And fortunately, it worked out that way for us. I’m happy for the guys. It was a good week of practice. We showed up tonight. We’ll see what happens next week.”

Stockstill said that when Pass recovered the Morton fumble on the kickoff, it only improved the momentum that they had already established.

“I think we had momentum, and that just swung it even farther in our direction,” said Stockstill. “Offensively, we had our foot on the gas all night. I’m happy with the way that the guys played. They didn’t take any plays off.”

The Pirates’ defense would flex their muscle on Morton’s next possession, holding them to a net of 2 yards, forcing a punt. And the Pirates’ offense would reward their effort quickly as Trivillion would connect with Thomas for a 61-yard pass play to extend their lead to 34-7 early in the second quarter.

Trivillion would carry from 2 yards out for the Pirates for their sixth score of the first half, and he would also keep it for the 2-point conversion run to give the Pirates a 42-7 lead with 3 minutes remaining on the second quarter clock.

Lizana would get his second touchdown of the game on the Pirates’ sixth possession, closing out their scoring with 11:50 showing on the running clock in the fourth quarter.

Morton scored late in the second quarter and late in the fourth quarter, but both scores were window dressing as the game appeared already decided.

Trivillion led the Pirates completing 8 of eleven passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and rushing for 46 yards, including a touchdown and a 2-point conversion.

Lewis had three receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown for the Pirates, followed by Thomas with two receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.

The Pirates will play a 3rd-round 4A playoff game on the road at Columbia next Friday.