6A South State: Picayune @ West Jones

[maroontide06]

Well here it is folks.  Whether it’s in Calhoun or Soso or somewhere between  it’s the matchup that we knew would happen sooner rather than later and here it is upon us.  Time to open the floodgates LOL!

[coastfootballfanman]

It is hard to imagine West scoring enough on the Picayune defense to win. I do not mean that as a knock on West Jones offense either. Their QB is a great athlete and I think he can create some matchup problems for Picayune, but if West cannot consistently block Amarion Tyson, he will shut it down fairly quick. I do think West defense is good enough to meet Picayune offense. I see a 17-14 type of contest with Picayune coming out on top. 

[Dubaction]

To be honest… WJ’s defense is probably just as good from a talent standpoint as Picayune. I’m not 100% who I’d pick yet but I would lean on Picayune being more battle tested to this point. WJ won’t throw anything at them they haven’t seen already. 

[Hightide]

West Jones done run out of cupcakes Time to play the real dawgs of 6-A.

[Merlin]

I’m WJ through and through but I honestly don’t think our passing game is as good as it needs to be to keep Picayunes defense honest. 
 

Chris Davis bring unavailable for picayune May change things a bit.  
 

Also, don’t start that week schedule stuff.  Laurel won district and playing for 5A south state with a real good shot to win it.  Poplarville won district playing for 4A south state.  Jackson Prep avenged 1 of their 3 losses beating MRA in playoffs and playing for MAIS State title against Hartfield who also beat them earlier.  Picayune beating Brandon gets props but ocean springs did coast football things and tapped out early in playoffs showing they weren’t really ready.  Gulfport likewise probably no better than Hattiesburg.  Picayunes division mates no better than wests.  Picayune has a slight advantage in schedule difficulty early on in season but that doesn’t matter at all at this point. 
 

I think it comes down to turnovers and coaching.  West tends to stall its own drives trying to throw when there is no need.  If they just line up and run, like vs Hattiesburg and at moments vs Terry last night, they eventually start breaking big ones.  

Edited November 18, 2023 by Merlin

[Dubaction]

It’s not really so much the charmin soft schedule. Picayune has had to respond to adversity more often against equally talented teams especially early in the year. It’s not the end all be all but it’s definitely a factor. 

[tigers79]

Picayune plays ball control 

[slicklizard]

I think the Picayune offense vs West defense  will be a push. Mustangs will get some stops and the Maroon Tide will score some points.

The game will hinge on the other side of the ball. The slow start by the West offense won't work next Friday  and they can't wait until their offensive line wears down the defense to start breaking runs. Corey may be sitting on some plays that he hasn't shown yet to break them out. If he does they are going to need them. It will be a four quarter game as far as scoring goes. 

Eye test I don't think West can keep up with just smashing into the line and I haven't seen a passing attack that is sustainable over the whole game.

It's in SoSo so they will have a TD advantage right off but the Tide will keep coming. It will be a nailbiter  but I think the Tide advances.

It will be a great atmosphere with the seats in that old stadium right on top of the players. I would love to be able to go.

[David44]

 I believe that WJ has the better defense, while Picayune probably the better offense. But both teams other sides

are better than most, so it's a wash. That leaves coaching, special teams, and turnovers, which I think will be

the deciding factors in this game. And yes, WJ has been sitting on some schemes/plays. Some of them were broke

out in the Hattiesburg game, some Friday night against Terry. I'm sure Picayune has some of those too.

Also, I think we will see certain guys being used on both sides of the ball, that were primarily one way players all season.

No reason to save or hold anything back now. Should be a great atmosphere and tremendous crowd.  

[David44]

Also, like to give a shout out to 3 counties that all border each other, Jasper, Jones, Smith,

with 5 teams playing in South State games this coming Friday.

[maroontide06]

1 hour ago, David44 said:

Also, like to give a shout out to 3 counties that all border each other, Jasper, Jones, Smith,

with 5 teams playing in South State games this coming Friday.

We’ve got two Pearl River County schools playing for South State this weekend as well.  Go Hornets and Roll Tide!

[Tiburon]

its a shame for him, and I hope he can play- but no worries. It takes a team and they have played most of the year with him out. They adapt to whatever situation and the Maroon Tide will roll. despite the weather, the refs, or who is kept on the sideline. it’s a different kind of team come the playoffs.

[maroontide06]

1 hour ago, Tiburon said:

its a shame for him, and I hope he can play- but no worries. It takes a team and they have played most of the year with him out. They adapt to whatever situation and the Maroon Tide will roll. despite the weather, the refs, or who is kept on the sideline. it’s a different kind of team come the playoffs.

We’ll be ok with whatever happens.  This team has faced adversity from the onset and we’ve just been able to adapt.  We’ll be ready come Friday night.

[Dubaction]

When will we get final word on 6? I think Picayune needs a player as dynamic as him on both sides of the ball against WJ. I understand the next man up mentality but not having him in a game of this magnitude is a huge loss. Picayune hasn’t played a team this good since September and lost that game without him. 

[maroontide06]

19 minutes ago, Dubaction said:

When will we get final word on 6? I think Picayune needs a player as dynamic as him on both sides of the ball against WJ. I understand the next man up mentality but not having him in a game of this magnitude is a huge loss. Picayune hasn’t played a team this good since September and lost that game without him. 

Don't know and it's water under the bridge at this point.  If he plays, he plays.  If he doesn't, he doesn't.  Will it stink if he doesn't get to play?  Sure it will, but you've gotta press ahead and we'll be fine.  There's really no need to make a big deal out of it at this point.  I'm sure the appeals process is going through the proper channels and if it gets denied, it gets denied.

[Tiburon]

1 hour ago, Dubaction said:

When will we get final word on 6? I think Picayune needs a player as dynamic as him on both sides of the ball against WJ. I understand the next man up mentality but not having him in a game of this magnitude is a huge loss. Picayune hasn’t played a team this good since September and lost that game without him. 

M last comment on this matter. in our last 3 games including the playoffs, Picayune's starting defense has given up zero points. Our offense has scored 129 points. Chris Davis scored 18 of those. No doubt his defensive contribution is big. But our secondary has come around nicely with other guys stepping up (2 picks in q3 this past week) When we lost in September to Ocean Springs, we got waay to many Penalties and deserved to lose. #5 was just coming into his won imho as a rb after primarily being a def player prior. Since he got his first (unexpected) start at George county, he has scored 10 TDs (4 games). #44 and #29 have also upped their production. not worried about rb. On another angle, does anyone know how #73 is doing? Is he gonna be full speed?  He was obviously playing in a lot of pain after he went down this past week. Changed the way he blocked the rest of that game. (can PM me if you prefer.) Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Edited November 20, 2023 by Tiburon

[Tiburon]

The last game Picayune lost on the road was September 17, 2021.

 

Please don't throw me into that briar patch.

[Big Poppa]

I'm hearing that the MHSAA office is closed this week like the schools are and they will have to get a cell phone # for someone in the office. Being that this is a sensitive and important matter hopefully it will be resolved sooner rather than later. 

Edited November 20, 2023 by Big Poppa

[David44]

One interesting tidbit. In the last 4 meetings of these schools, the road team has won 3 out of 4.

This should give y'all at least a sliver of hope.

 

 

[maroontide06]

3 minutes ago, David44 said:

One interesting tidbit. In the last 4 meetings of these schools, the road team has won 3 out of 4.

This should give y'all at least a sliver of hope.

 

 

You know as well as I do that what's happened in the past won't matter in regards to this game.  It's going to be two great football teams going after it and the one with the fewest mistakes will come away the victor.  Picayune has started playing really well since the postseason started and they just need to continue that level of play.  As long as Maroon Tide Nation shows up and makes it a home game type atmosphere like we had in 2019 up there, Picayune should continue to play an inspired brand of football.

[Tiburon]

I hear the concerns that we can't score without all our horses. it's a real shame. West Jones defense is just too good.

 

I guess we just accept that we will be shut out? Let me ask you, Maroontide06, how do you see West Jones scoring on us?

Obviously the facts that  our defense (most of them) has won the last 2 state championships and not lost on the road since 9/21 is a non-factor with the high powered offense we are about to face. it's our offense with the insurmountable task.

Edited November 20, 2023 by Tiburon
West Jones duh

[David44]

oh I know. I respect the heck out of you guys and Picayune football. Just starting a little back and forth.

It will all come down to what happens after 7pm Friday.

I know this, with the brand of football you guys play on offense, and the shift for West Jones away from 

running a full spread offense to more tight running formations , this will be one very physical football game.

 

[Tiburon]

Both teams have good kickers too. maybe there guy has a little longer leg?

 

[maroontide06]

4 minutes ago, Tiburon said:

I hear the concerns that we can't score without all our horses. it's a real shame. West Jones defense is just too good.

 

I guess we just accept that we will be shut out? Let me ask you, Maroontide06, how do you see West Point scoring on us?

Obviously the facts that  our defense (most of them) has won the last 2 state championships and not lost on the road since 9/21 is a non-factor with the high powered offense we are about to face. it's our offense with the insurmountable task.

West Point? Ha!

[Tiburon]

So here is what I know. Picayune holds the Mississippi State Record for most consecutive games with a score. I have it sitting at 288. That's all classifications. All time.