By Stan Caldwell/Sports Writer

HATTIESBURG — Warrior Field at Oak Grove High School was once again the graveyard for Biloxi’s playoff hopes.

For the third time in the past four seasons, the Indians found themselves on the short end of the scoreboard at Oak Grove, as the Warriors rolled to a 34-8 victory in the first round of the Class 7A high school football playoffs.

Oak Grove (9-2) advanced to the second-round against D‘Iberville next week at home. Biloxi finished its season 3-8 overall.

“Our kids played hard,” said Biloxi coach Eric Collier. “Oak Grove’s got a good football team, Coach (Drew) Causey does a great job with his program. It was a great ball game. I just wish we would have played better in the first half.

“But I’m proud of our kids. They’ve never quit all year long. I just appreciated the way they grind and how they’ve worked their butts off.”

Biloxi fought hard, but the Indians were playing uphill right from the start after the Warriors scored on a lightning-fast drive to open the game.

Taking the ball after winning the pregame coin toss, junior R.J. Sims gave Oak Grove excellent field position with a 39-yard kickoff return to the Biloxi 46-yard line.

On the second play from scrimmage, senior quarterback Kellen Hall threw a strike to senior Micah Caraway for a 39-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead less than a minute into the game.

“We knew coming in that we couldn’t sit back and play zone against them,” said Collier. “We knew we’d have to go in there and play some man coverage. And he’s got guys who can make plays.”

Indeed, Biloxi never did figure out how to stop Hall, who completed 19 of 30 passes for 380 yards and three touchdowns, plus he ran for another score.

Nevertheless, the Indians bowed up on defense, stopping the Warriors next two possessions on the doorstep of the end zone, the first resulting in a missed field goal, and the second a goal-line stand on fourth down from the Indian 1-yard line.

Biloxi mounted two good drives after each stop, driving into Oak Grove territory both times, but came away empty on a pair of fourth-down stops.

The Warriors took advantage of the second stop to mount a brisk four-play, 62 yard scoring drive. The big play was a 30-yard run around left end by senior Roman Causey to the Indian 8, and Hall ran a keeper in for the score on the next play.

Senior quarterback Jordan Ramsey answered for Biloxi on the next possession with two big pass plays, a 35-yard catch-and-run to senior tight end Anthony Lewis and a 28-yard strike to senior Davie Griffin to the Warrior 6.

But a motion penalty cost the Indians five yards, and on the next play, Ramsey connected with Griffin in the flat, but the ball was knocked loose and Oak Grove recovered at the 8-yard line.

Collier questioned the officials at length as to whether Griffin ever fully possessed the ball, but the decision stood, and the Indians’ best chance to score in the first half went for naught.

“Yeah, I think they missed that one,” said Collier. “But that’s part of the game.”

Oak Grove answered with its best drive of the game, marching 92 yards on just seven plays to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.

Hall got the Warriors into Biloxi territory with a 39-yard pass to Caraway – who finished with 170 yards on four catches – and Hall got the touchdown on a 23-yard pass play to senior Kendrell Roberts.

The Indians were much more effective on offense in the second half, but not before Oak Grove converted a 28-yard field goal by freshman Reed Kelly to give the Warriors a 24-0 lead.

Starting at their own 25, Biloxi converted three third downs on a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive.

Senior Ian Harlan ran for 12-yards for one first down, then Ramsey hit sophomore Mason Field for a 31-yard reception for a second first down, and Ramsey got the touchdown on a 21-yard pass play to senior Ahvin Magee. Ramsey then hit Griffin for the two-point conversion.

Oak Grove recovered an onside kick attempt, and Hall connected with sophomore Jakylynn Moody for 34 yards to the 15-yard line, but the Indians forced the Warriors to settle for a 25-yard Kelly field goal.

The Warriors put the game on ice after stopping Biloxi near midfield, covering 72 yards on eight plays, most of it coming on two big pass plays, a 37-yard strike to Caraway and a 30-yard pass to Moody for the touchdown.

Although Biloxi will have to replace some key seniors, Collier likes the foundation this team built.

“We’ve got a lot coming back,” said Collier. “We’re excited about getting back in the weight room, and getting back to work to get ready for next season.”