Football Recap: Keon Mcneil's Big Game Can't Quite Lead Gautier over Picayune

Gautier was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their third straight loss. They were four points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 35-31 heartbreaker at the hands of the Picayune Maroon Tide. The Gators lost against the Maroon Tide in their previous head to head back in November of 2022, too, but the margin this time around was much closer than the 49-14 score last time.

Gautier's defeat came despite a true team effort from the offense with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Keon McNeil, who threw for 248 yards and three TDs, and also punched in one rushing score. Latrell Pogue helped McNeil out on the ground, rushing for 102 yards and one touchdown on only 13 carries.

Gautier's loss dropped their record down to 3-6. As for Picayune, the win (which was their fifth in a row) raised their record to 8-1.

We've got plenty of inter-district action coming up soon. Gautier is set to face off against their familiar foe Pascagoula at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. That matchup will pit two of the most dominant backs against one another: Pogue and Amarie Jackson. Meanwhile, Picayune will square off against rival Pearl River Central at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. The two teams might be coming in a bit winded given these two teams combined for 1,023 yards in their previous games.