Picayune roars back to topple Laurel in the fourth quarter to win a south state title
Dante Dowdell scored three times, but it was Chris Smith who ran in the go-ahead touchdown run with less than 90 seconds left to cap a furious Picayune comeback in the south state title game.
“I’m tickled to death and proud of our players and staff, the Picayune family in general,” Picayune head coach Cody Stogner said after the game. “Everybody showed out tonight. Our team has worked so hard to get where we are and I really can’t say enough how much I’m proud of them.”
The fourth quarter began with Laurel leading the Maroon Tide 28-17. Dowdell cut the Golden Tornado lead to single digits with a three-yard touchdown run, but the ensuing two point conversion attempt failed.
Picayune had a chance to take the lead, but lost the football at the goal line. Fortune favored the Maroon Tide, though, as Laurel attempted a punt a few plays later only for the snap to sail behind the end zone for a Picayune safety.
With 1:22 left to play, Davis gave the crowd what it had been waiting for with a shifty touchdown run that turned into the game-winner.
“We didn’t hit the panic button,” Stogner said. “There’s always still time left on the clock. Our defense was very capable of getting stops and offensively we knew we able to run the ball. We had some missed execution but didn’t hit the panic button and didn’t give up.”
The Maroon Tide had another strong game on the ground with its state-leading rushing attack behind an offensive line that continues to play up to the challenge.
“The guys up front, what’s impressive is how much better they’ve gotten since the first game of the season,” Stogner said. “It helps to have a pretty good stable back there behind them.”
The Picayune faithful stood their ground through the entire game and were rewarded for their energy, an energy Stogner said made a big impact on the final result.
“It’s huge,” Stogner said about the fans’ impact. “Anytime you get to play in front of the home crowd and not have to load up and get on the bus and get somewhere and then cramp into another locker room is always nice.”
Stogner’s team is now the last squad standing from the gulf coast across the statewide playoffs. Picayune’s 2013 state title represents the last championship any team from the region has won.
The Maroon Tide are now once again vying to bring the coveted 5A trophy home to the gulf.
“It’s great for the coast,” Stogner said. “It’s great for Picayune, it’s great for the surrounding communities. It also takes a lot of luck, we’ve been very lucky this year. It’s a great feeling to have.”
Picayune will meet undefeated West Point in the championship game in Hattiesburg next week. The only meeting between the two schools came in the 2019 state title game where the Green Wave won 38-26.
The final game of the 5A season will be played in M. M. Roberts Stadium and kicks off at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
