The Hattiesburg (MS) varsity football team will play a neutral playoff game against Picayune (MS) on Friday, November 29, at 7:00 p.m.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: Mississippi High School Football
Who: Picayune vs Hattiesburg
When: Friday, November 29, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m ET
Bracket: 2024 Football Championships – 6A
Live Stream: Watch Here

Game Preview: Picayune vs. Hattiesburg

The 2024 Mississippi high school football playoffs set the stage for a thrilling matchup between Picayune and Hattiesburg, both of which are highly ranked teams with impressive records. This will be a clash of two strong programs, with Hattiesburg looking to maintain their undefeated season and Picayune aiming to continue their solid playoff run.

Picayune (24-25) Season Overview

Picayune enters the game with an 11-2 overall record, having finished 5-0 in district play. They have been solid on both sides of the ball, averaging 39.2 points per game while giving up 345 points across the season. They have been strong in non-district matchups, going 6-0 against out-of-district opponents.

Scoring Averages

• Q1: 11.3 points
• Q2: 10.5 points
• Q3: 7.1 points
• Q4: 5.8 points

Picayune scores consistently in the first half but tends to slow down in the second half. Their strong start and solid performances in the first three quarters have been key to their successful season.

Key Wins

Picayune has had several important victories, including a 63-40 win over George County (11/22/24) and a 48-7 win against Pearl River Central (11/15/24). They have shown the ability to control the game and rack up points when needed.

Hattiesburg (24-25) Season Overview

Hattiesburg enters this playoff matchup with a perfect 12-0 record, dominating in district play with a 4-0 record and perfect performances in both home and away games. Their defense has been a key factor, allowing only 120 points across the season, while they average 33.8 points per game.

Scoring Averages

• Q1: 10.3 points
• Q2: 9.0 points
• Q3: 4.8 points
• Q4: 8.3 points

Hattiesburg starts a bit slower than Picayune but shows resilience in the later stages, with a strong fourth-quarter performance. This ability to finish strong has been an important aspect of their perfect season.

Key Wins

Hattiesburg has also been dominant in their victories, including a 48-21 win against George County (10/4/24) and a 42-0 win over Pearl River Central (10/25/24). They have excelled in shutting down opponents and keeping their scoring margin high.

Team Stat Comparison

Here’s how the teams compare in key areas:

• Rushing Yards Per Game: Picayune – 202.4
• Passing Yards Per Game: Hattiesburg – 112.3
• Receiving Yards Per Game: Hattiesburg – 112.3
• Total Yards Per Game: Picayune – 324.7
• Tackles Per Game: Picayune – 54.0
• Sacks Per Game: Picayune – 2.5
• Points Per Game: Picayune – 39.2, Hattiesburg – 33.8

Picayune has been a more potent offensive team in terms of total yards per game, but Hattiesburg has excelled at limiting opponent scoring. Both teams are strong on both sides of the ball, with Picayune showing more offensive explosiveness and Hattiesburg showing defensive dominance.

Key Players to Watch

• Picayune:
  • Offensive Stars: Look for Picayune’s ability to rack up rushing yards, especially in their early-game surge.
  • Defense: With 54.0 tackles per game, Picayune’s defense has been solid, and they will need to continue that trend to contain Hattiesburg’s offense.
• Hattiesburg:
  • Offensive Playmakers: Hattiesburg’s offense has been balanced, with key players stepping up in crucial moments.
  • Defense: Their defense has been suffocating all season, limiting teams to an average of only 120 points all season. This will be key as they face Picayune’s high-powered attack.

Head-to-Head

Both teams have faced similar opponents during the season, with strong performances across the board. Here’s how they matched up against common opponents:

• Petal:
  • Picayune won 24-21 (10/4/24)
  • Hattiesburg won 7-3 (8/31/24)
• Pascagoula:
  • Picayune won 38-28 (10/11/24)
  • Hattiesburg won 33-17 (11/22/24)
• George County:
  • Picayune won 27-20 (11/1/24)
  • Hattiesburg won 48-21 (10/4/24)

Both teams had good results against these opponents, with Hattiesburg showcasing slightly stronger wins, especially in their shutouts and dominant defensive performances.

Record Breakdown

Here’s a breakdown of both teams’ overall and district records:

• Picayune: 11-2 overall, 5-0 district, 6-2 home, 4-0 away, 1-0 neutral
• Hattiesburg: 12-0 overall, 4-0 district, 5-0 home, 5-0 away, 2-0 neutral

Hattiesburg’s undefeated season gives them the advantage in terms of momentum, but Picayune’s experience and ability to play in high-scoring games could make this matchup closer than expected.

Conclusion: Who Has the Advantage?

While Picayune has been an offensive powerhouse and has shown the ability to score at will, Hattiesburg‘s undefeated record and ability to dominate defensively makes them a tough opponent. Hattiesburg’s defense will be the key factor in this game, as they look to limit Picayune’s high-powered offense.

Picayune will need to take advantage of their offensive strengths early in the game to get ahead, but if Hattiesburg can keep the game close, their defense and ability to finish strong in the fourth quarter will likely give them the edge.

This matchup promises to be a thrilling contest, with Hattiesburg holding a slight edge due to their perfect record and suffocating defense.