5 first-half touchdowns by Picayune star ignites second-round win over Hancock
Two words: “You slow.”
Hancock spent the evening reading the phrase on Picayune running back Xavier Dennis’ backplate as it chased him for over 300 first-half rushing yards during the Maroon Tide’s 52-20 rout over the Hawks.
Dennis scored five touchdowns between the first two quarters of the 6A playoff’s second round match to help send Picayune to the South State title game for the fifth year in a row.
“He’s quick as a lightning bug,” Picayune coach Cody Stogner said following the game. “He’s just a very, very talented guy, and we get to have him for another year.”
Picayune’s bell cow covered 298 yards in touchdown runs alone. Each of the Tide’s first two plays from scrimmage ended with Dennis in the end zone.
The Hawks were in the rearview mirror on scoring runs of 80, 97 and 76 yards and a 94-yard touchdown that was called back due to penalty.
“If you see it, you slow,” Dennis said of his backplate. “Not many people can catch me. It’s just a little reminder that everybody else is slow.”
Picayune has reached the state semifinal each year since 2021 and in seven of the last eight seasons.
But this marks the first time the Tide have ever scored over 50 points twice in the same postseason after packing up George County, 55-7, in Round 1.
Just as the team did last week, Picayune credits its regular-season finale loss against Pearl River Central as the spark it needed.
“We’re starting to play some of our best ball at the right time,” Stogner said. “It really comes from the players. We had an attitude adjustment is what happened to us. It was a blessing in disguise.”
Picayune raced out of the gates, Friday, picking off Hancock quarterback Kaison Koenenn on the game’s first possession and immediately cashing it with Dennis’ first touchdown run of 21 yards.
Koenen would put together the Hawks’ best drive of the night in response and tied the game when Koenenn split the defense on a quarterback keeper from 18 yards out.
On the very next play from scrimmage, Dennis took an inside handoff, found a crease and burst into open field on his way to an 80-yard house call.
Picayune would find pay dirt three more times — twice by Dennis and once by fullback Makon Burnette — and build a comfortable 38-7 lead before the Hawks could break through again with the first of two touchdown connections between Kaison Koenenn and Aspen Farve.
Dennis left his final mark on the game with a 76-yard sideline race with 22 seconds remaining in the half.
“They’re some dogs, all of them,” Dennis said of his offensive line. “All of them bought in, all of them dedicated, everybody plays their part, and it all just comes together as one group.”
The Maroon Tide will meet an athletic Hattiesburg Tigers team that has beaten PRC 42-0 and Pascagoula 35-20 without star receiver Tristen Keys to earn their spot in South State.
Koenenn and the Hawks gave Picayune a live test at defending the pass before it sees quarterback Gavin Ducksworth’s explosive Tigers offense.
Picayune has had its season end in the semifinal in each of the last two years, but hopes to break that spell and find its way to Starkville this time through.
“Everbody wants to win,” Dennis said. “Last year we fell short. This year we want it all.”
Picayune will pack for a Black Friday road trip to Hattiesburg next week to meet the Tigers.
This story was originally published November 21, 2025 at 11:01 PM.
