Forget the lost to Brookhaven. Forget the loss to West Jones.
The regular season didn’t go for Laurel as it had in year’s past. Laurel, winner of three-straight region titles, finished 5-2 in Region 3-5A – a third-seed heading into the first round of the MHSAA Class 5A playoffs.
But as the old, and sometimes outdated, clique goes: everyone starts out 0-0 in the playoffs.
Head coach Todd Breland and Company is mindful of that this week.
“When we look back at our last three games, I think we’re playing as well as we’ve been playing all year,” said Breland. “That is where you want to be at the end of the [regular season].
“We got some pieces of our puzzle fit together, and we’re 0-0, and everybody else is the same way. Its win or go home.”
Laurel (7-4) ended the regular season last Friday night on a three-game win streak, beating Natchez at R. H. Watkins Stadium, 47-14. Natchez waltz in “between the bricks” with a shot of making the playoffs, pending a major upset. Laurel denied any such notion.
“We’ve been preaching to our kids over the past few weeks about [being in] playoff mode,” said Breland. “We were [already guaranteed a spot] in the playoffs, but fighting for position. Our kids prepared themselves. Natchez is a very good football team, who was coming here with a shot to make the playoffs. So, they were juiced up pretty good. That game had me on edge, to be honest with you, but our kids responded and did what they had to do.”
With the regular season now in the rearview mirror and every team 0-0 as says Breland, Laurel turns its attention to Picayune (9-2) this week for a first-round colossal matchup.
Picayune and Laurel have met before.
In Laurel’s first year as a 5A school, Picayune denied Laurel the chance to play for a state title, defeating the Tornadoes in the South State Championship, 35-28. Laurel returned the feeling last season, beating the Tide 45-27 in the South State Championship.
“Picayune is Picayune,” said Breland. “You can watch film from 10 years ago to 20 years ago, and they do the same thing.
“They’re a physical team with good speed. They’re also well coached and believe in what they do. They would be a tough matchup for anyone because you don’t see their style of play week in week out.”
Picayune likes to play ball control and runs the ball with authority. In past years, Laurel’s offense would be pass-oriented, a stark difference between the two. This year, they both have strong similarities.
“You have to identify yourself with the strengths of your team,” Breland said. “Obviously when we got Micheal Terrell back, along with Melyjah Windham who was injured for [a large portion] of the year, it’s made us a pretty good running football team. We already have Zias [Perryman] who’s been outstanding for us [a running back].”
Perryman leads the pack with 876 yards on 133 carries and 11 touchdowns. Terrell and Windham, both under 30 carries since their return, averages 7.5 and 7.1 yards per carry.
Picayune has a stunning 4,150 rushing yards this season. Senior back Shaun Anderson leads the team with 2,110 yards on 255 carries and 27 touchdowns, as well as 115 yards on five catches and two touchdowns. Anderson accounts for 45.8 percent of the teams total offensive production.
“Defensively, we will do what we’ve done all season,” said Breland. “We will swarm to the football.”
Kickoff Friday night is set for 7 p.m. at Picayune Memorial High School Stadium.
