By Maurice Singleton/Sports Writer

BILOXI — The Picayune Maroon Tide (1-2) got their first win of the season with a 34-31 overtime win over Biloxi on Friday. The Maroon Tide never trailed in regulation, but Biloxi (1-2) scored first in overtime on a field goal, but the Maroon Tide answered on the second snap of their overtime possession to secure the win.

Junior running back Kendall Jett pushed through between the tackles for a 4-yard score to give the Maroon Tide the win.

“It was so important for our psyche,” said Picayune coach Cody Stogner of the team’s first win after losing their first two games. “They hear all this outside noise, and sometimes they can buy into it; sometimes they can believe it. But these guys don’t do that. They block it out. This was just a big win for our psyche moving forward to the rest of the season.”

It looked like the Maroon Tide had secured the win with about two and a half minutes to play when senior back Xavier Dennis scored on an 81-yard run from scrimmage to put the Maroon Tide up 28-21. But Biloxi answered with a big play of their own as junior Kamorian Smith returned the ensuing kickoff 85 yards to even the score with 2:12 left on the game clock.

There were also some huge plays in the first half on both sides of the ball by both teams. Picayune scored on a 9-yard Dennis carry to cap the Maroon Tide’s opening possession. The score was set up by a 25-yard carry by Dennis on the second play of the game and a 37-yard screen pass play on the fourth snap of the game.

Biloxi evened the score on their second possession as quarterback Jordan Ramsey carried it in from two yards out after connecting with senior receiver Davie Griffin for 18 yards to give them good field position at the Maroon Tide 29-yard line.

Jett scored his first touchdown of the night on a 58-yard carry with just under a minute to go in the first quarter to put the Maroon Tide up 14-7. The PAT kick came about thirty-five minutes later after a rain delay.

Biloxi responded with two snaps to even the score to open the second quarter as Ramsey completed two passes, an eleven-yarder to senior wide out Ahvin Magee and then a 39-yard catch and run to senior tight end Anthony Lewis for the touchdown, which tied the game at 14-14.

Picayune was driving late in the second quarter as they advanced the ball to the Biloxi 26-yard line, but the Indians defense would come up with two huge plays, sacks on consecutive snaps to back them up to the Biloxi 40-yard line.

Biloxi threatened to take the lead with their opening possession of the second half as Ramsey led a 7-play drive from their own 34-yard line to the Picayune 1-yard line, but the Indians would turn the ball over as Zaden Foxworth stripped the ball out of the Biloxi receiver’s grip inside the 1-yard line.

“He’s a sophomore, but he doesn’t play like a sophomore,” said Stogner. “He’s going to do whatever it takes to win a football game and to help everybody around him. That’s what he does.”

“Great game; both teams played their butts off,” said Biloxi coach Eric Collier. “I appreciate the way Picayune does it, and we’re trying to do the exact same thing: run the football and play great defense. Our kids didn’t quit. We’ve come a long way in six or seven months. And we’re close.”

Picayune plays Ocean Springs at home next Friday, while. Biloxi hosts Hattiesburg.