Picayune rallies past Starkville 38-21

JACKSON – (AP) Quarterback Ben Hickman threw two touchdown passes and Picayune rushed for 314 yards as the Maroon Tide beat Starkville 38-21 to capture the Class 5A title at Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

Picayune (13-2) jumped out to a 17-0 lead.

Starkville (12-3) rallied in the third quarter behind two Gabe Myles touchdowns and took a 21-17 lead into the final period.

But Hickman engineered a 14-play, 93-yard drive to start the fourth quarter. Hickman found Justin Mark for the 15-yard go-ahead touchdown pass and never trailed again.

Hickman was 4 of 8 for 145 yards and Mark caught three balls, two for touchdowns.

Dereonte Magee rushed for a team-high 133 yards, and Preston Dedeaux rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Starkville's Myles finished with 165 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He also passed for 52 yards.

This is Picayune's first state title since 1986.