SOUTH MISS 6 SPORTS

Prep Football: Maroon Tide run past Panthers 38-23 to open Region 4-6A action

A high school football player in maroon uniform running with the ball, evading a defender in a white jersey during a game.
Picayune running back Xavier Dennis breaks towards the edge vs. Pascagoula Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

By Curtis Rockwell/Sports Director

PICAYUNE — Long live the King.

Picayune started off defense of its Region 4-6A title by dumping visiting Pascagoula 38-23 here at Lee-Triplett Stadium Thursday night in the league opener for both teams. The Maroon Tide is in search of a program record sixth straight region crown, dating back to the 2021 season.

Picayune sits 3-3 overall, while the Panthers dropped their fifth straight game after a 2-0 start and are 2-5 overall.

A high school football game in action with a player in maroon uniform carrying the ball while being pursued by two defenders, one in white and red and the other in maroon. The scene captures the intensity of the game on a green field.
Picayune running back Xavier Dennis looks for some running room as Pascagoula defender Je’Mareay Pickett closes in Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
A high school football player in a white uniform with red and blue accents is running with the ball on a green field, evading two defenders in maroon uniforms during a game.
Pascagoula’s Keelan Harper sets sail on a 95-yard kick off return for a score vs. Picayune Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
A high school football game scene showing a player in a red helmet tackling another player in a maroon uniform on a green field.
Picayune running back Xaiden Foxworth loses his helmet on a big gain as Pascagoula defender Jonathan Shelby closes in Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

The Maroon Tide got a combined 316 yards rushing and four touchdowns out of the one-two tailback combination of Xavier Dennis and Xaiden Foxworth on the night.

“It’s great to get back in the win column and get the first one at home,” Picayune head coach Cody Stogner said. “Especially getting off to a good start in a tough district.”

Pascagoula struck first, as quarterback Jason Glaude found wide out Arabian Johnson streaking down the visitors sidelines for a 7-1yard scoring strikes on the second play of the game to make it 7-0.

But Picayune responded immediately, as Dennis capped the opening drive for the home team with a 36-yard touchdown dash to tie it up at 7-7.

A high school football player in a white and red uniform, carrying the ball, is running away from a defender in a maroon jersey. Two other players in red uniforms are nearby on the field.
Pascagoula’s Kevin Marshall looks for some running room as Picayune defender Demario Hodges pursues Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
A football player in maroon jersey number 9 dodges opposing players during a game on a green field.
Picayune running back Xavier Dennis cuts into open space past Pascagoula defender Creevy Harness Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
A football player wearing a white uniform with blue and red stripes is running towards the end zone while holding the football. A defender in a maroon uniform attempts to tackle him from the ground, with other players in the background.
Pascagoula quarterback Jason Glaude gets chased out of bounds by Picayune’s Damerion Merrill Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

After Panther placekicker Miles Sprague booted a shot field goal. for a 10-7 lead, Dennis quickly erased that with a Dennis 26-yard scoring scamper on the first play of the second stanza to give Stogner’s squad a lead it would never relinquish at 14-10.

Picayune’s Edgar Cruz kicked a 35-yard field goal on the final play of the first half to make it 17-0 at halftime.

It was Foxworth’s turn as the second half unfolded. He sprinted 71-yards for a score less than two minutes into the third frame to put Picayune up 24-10.

A high school football game in action, featuring players in maroon and white uniforms and white uniforms with red and blue accents. The player in maroon is running with the ball while being pursued by opponents.
Picayune running back Xavier Dennis attempts to shield off Pascagoula defender Jezarrius Washington Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
A football player in maroon is being tackled by three defenders in white and red uniforms on a grass field, with spectators in the background.
Picayune running back Xaiden Foxworth gets tangled up with a pair of Pascagoula defenders including Mykelin Steele (17) Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
A football player in a white uniform with red and blue accents runs with the ball, while opposing players in maroon jerseys pursue him on a green field during a nighttime game.
Pascagoula wide out Arabia Johnson surveys the situation vs. Picayune Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)

Then, after versatile Maroon Tide senior Jamari Hathorne picked off a Glaude pass deep in Panther territory and returned it 56-yards to the Pascagoula 38-yard line, the home team basically sealed the deal on a 1-yatd quarterback sneak by Donnie Brewer to go up 31-10.

A 3-yard scoring run by Foxworth down the stretch was sandwiched in between a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by Pascagoula’s Keeland Harper and a 16-yard touchdown pass pass from Glaude to Johnson.

Dennis led the Tide on the ground with 198 yards on 24 carries and the two scores.

It marked the sixth straight win for Picayune over Pascagoula in this annual affair.

A football player in a white and blue uniform with the number 4 runs on the field, dodging a player in a maroon uniform with the number 7 during a night game.
Pascagoula running back Sean Norvel looks to change direction vs. Picayune Thursday night. (Photo by Allan Ritter)
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