By Joseph W. Gex II/Sports Writer

Picayune — The Picayune Memorial Maroon Tide made quick work of the Hancock Hawks following a turnover on downs inside their own 10-yard line that broke the momentum for Hancock early in the first quarter of the Class 6A second round matchup. The Maroon Tide (10-2) dispatched the Hawks (5-7) 52-20 to advance to the Class 6A South State championship the day after Thanksgiving. 

The Hawks opened the game on offense but were intercepted by Brody Kirkland on the second play from scrimmage at the Hawk 44-yard line and the ball was returned to the 21-yard line.

The Maroon Tide needed just one play as Xavier Dennis sprinted 21 yards for the touchdown with 11:03 left in the first quarter. Edgar Cruz converted the PAT to make the score 7-0. 

Hancock answered on the ensuing drive. Kaison Koennen connected with Bryson Thompson on a 37-yard aerial that went to the Maroon Tide 18-yard line. Koennen called his own number on the next play and went 18-yards for the touchdown with 10:33 left in the first quarter. Nathan Trahan’s PAT knotted the score at 7-7.

The Maroon Tude took over at their own 20-yard line following the touchback. Dennis took the handoff and made two mind-altering moves and raced 80 yards for the touchdown with 10:20 left in the first quarter. Cruz converted the PAT to push the score to 14-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Cruz booted a sky-kick which was fumbled by the Hawks and recovered by Colby McDougle at the Hawk 27-yard line. 

The Hawk defense stepped up and held the Maroon Tide out of the end zone; however, Cruz made a 32-yard field goal to make the score 17-7.

The Hawks put together a 14-play drive that drove the ball down to the Maroon Tide 3-yard line before Picayune forced a turnover on downs to keep the Hawks out of the endzone. 

The Maroon Tide responded with a back-breaking 97-yard scoring run by Dennis with 1:25 left in the first quarter. Cruz made the score 24-7 with the PAT and all but put the game in the favor of Picayune. 

The Hawks were forced to punt away on the next possession and Jordan Hathorne returned the ball to the Hawk 36-yard line. Colt Robertson hooked up with Jordan Hathornefor a 35-yard gain down the Hawk one. Making Burnette scored on a one-yard dive with 11:17 left in the first half. Cruz converted the PAT to make the score 31-7.

Each team traded possessions with the other twice before Picayune found the endzone. Dennis scored on a 24-yard run for the fourth time in the game. Cruz made the score 38-7 with 2:32 to play in the first half. 

The Hawks answered with a 51-yard bomb launched from Koennen to Aspen Farve with 1:18 left in the half. Trahan’s PAT made the score 38-14.

Picayune opened the ensuing drive at the own 23-yard line. On the second play from scrimmage, Dennis raced his way 76 yards for a touchdown with 22 seconds remaining in the first half. Cruz made the score 45-14 with the PAT. 

On the Maroon Tide’s second possession of the second half, Jamari Hathorne ripped off a 58-yard scoring run with 1:20 left in the third quarter. The score was pushed to 52-14 with the PAT by Cruz.

The Hawks answered with an eight-play drive that culminated with a 12-yard scoring aerial from Koennen to Aspen Favre with 8:44 left in the game. Trahan’s PAT left the final score 52-20 as the running clock quickly winded down. 

Hancock head coach Michael King commented, “We had some chances early to make a highly competitive game but when we were stopped inside the five-yard line with the score 17-7 and a chance to make it 17-14, that was a momentum killer. I am very proud of these players. They have made tremendous strides from where they were to where we finished tonight. After the 0-4 start, not many people gave us a chance but we advanced to the Class 6A quarter-finals. We will have some voids to fill with departing seniors. Kaison Koennen is the obvious one along with other seniors like Kaxson Knight, Caden Dedeaux, and others. We have Justin Wedgeworth coming back at quarterback and it will be interesting to see how we develop at quarterback because he brings a different set of skills than Kaison Koennen. Our offensive line loses one senior. Our defensive line will be affected the most with having to replace Jaxson Knight and Caden Dedeaux. Now, we begin the off-season to prepare for next year.”

The Hawks were led by Koennen who rushed 17 times for 140 yards and a touchdown and threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns on 21-for-32 passing. Aspen Favre caught 6 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.

Picayune head coach Cody Stogner stated, “The game was really tight early on but when we got the stop inside our five yard line on downs and turned that into points, it allowed our defense to play with some increased confidence for the remainder of the game. Coach Seth Hayden and his staff made some great calls throughout the game. It was a total team effort to get the victory tonight and we are very proud of the players. Xavier Dennis turned in some some really good runs with the football behind his offensive line that made some really nice blocks for him. Now, we get another game with Hattiesburg who put us out almost one year ago to the day. We will get some film and make preparations for next Friday on the road. The players are excited for the opportunity so we will see what we can do.”

The Maroon Tide was led by Xavier Dennis who rushed 16 times for 344 yards and five touchdowns. 

The Maroon Tide will travel to Hattiesburg on Friday, November 28, for the Class 6A South State championship game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.