By SAM STAFF/Sports Writer

The Stone offensive backfield combination of Ayden Green and Jayden Collins teamed up to produce right at 300 yards rushing and four touchdowns Friday night as the Tomcats toppled visiting Sumrall 35-7 in the opening round of the Class 5A South State playoffs.

The win, at A.L. May Stadium in Perkinston on the campus of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, moves Stone to a solid 8-3 on the season. It’s also the seventh straight win for the Tomcats after they started the season off at 1-2.

Green ran for 170 yards and two scores while Collins countered with 123 yards on the ground and two touchdowns of his own. Green raced 73-yards for a score on the second Stone play of the game to get things rolling. Collins added a 3-yard run to make it 14-0 after he hauled in a 36-yard pass from SHS quarterback Zander Howard. Then Green got back into the swing of things with a one-yard run of his own to make it 20-0 at halftime.

Stone running back Amarion Fairley also ran for a score.

Stone hosts Laurel next week.

Meanwhile, defending Class 4A state champ Poplarville remained alive in its defense for back-to-back crowns with an exciting 43-34 road win over Forest Friday night in the second round of the Class 4A South State playoffs.

Hornet standout junior running back and recently named “Class 4A Mr. Football” Ty Keys ran for 193 yards and four touchdowns to power Poplarville to the comeback win after the visitors trailed 34-28 early in the final period.

Poplarville quarterback Trac Smith also ran for two touchdowns in the winning effort.

The Hornets head back to McComb next week.

Also, in the Class 7A South State playoffs opening round, Region 4-7A rivals Biloxi and D’Iberville both fell on the road.

The Indians fell to Oak Grove 52-20 and the Warriors dropped a tough defensive battle to Petal 14-3.