Meridian tops Pearl in region opener

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For the first time since 2018 Meridian begins region play 1-0.

Behind a fast start offensively the Wildcats got past Pearl 30-13 at Ray Rogers Stadium on Saturday night in the Region 3-7A opener.

“I thought we got out to a great start offensively and on our first three possessions we scored, so we played like I expect us to play,” said Meridian head coach Tony Vance. “We had to have a fast start especially on the road and defensively when we blocked the field goal that changed the game for us.”

The Wildcats (4-2, 1-0 Region 3-7A) scored on their first three possessions.

Meridian scored on the game’s opening drive to take a 7-0 lead as Grant Hill powered into the end zone from two yards out with 8:28.

After the Wildcats blocked a Pearl field goal Cordarrin Wilson found JaQuareon McCoy on a 48-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 14-0 with six minutes left in the first quarter.

On the next drive Wilson hit Jaquavious McCoy on a 46-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter to extend the Meridian lead to 21-0.

Pearl got on the board on a Peyton Parks 9-yard touchdown run to cut the Wildcat lead to 21-7 with 44 seconds left in the first half.

Meridian quickly answered as Angel Vincente hit a 24-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Wildcats a 24-7 lead at halftime.

The Pirates scored on the opening drive of the second half on a Jacob Tillman 3-yard run with 7:07 left in the third quarter to cut the Meridian lead to 24-13.

Hill added a 3-yard touchdown run on Meridian’s next drive to extend the lead to 30-13.

Hill finished with 148 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns.

“Cordarrin did a great job spreading the ball around, receivers made plays, and Grant ran the extremely well,” Vance said. “Defense did a great job tonight even with somethings not going our way, but we played through it, so I am proud of these guys coming on the road in a great environment. It’s hard to be 1-0 in this region and it’s been a long time since we’ve been 1-0 to begin region, so proud of the guys for being 1-0 this week.”

Wilson finished 12-of-21 passing for 249 yards with two touchdowns to lead Meridian offensively.

“The way we started the first quarter is something we need to do the whole game. We started out great and defense played great and offensively we kept rolling,” Wilson said. “Our offensive line did a great job blocking all night, receivers made plays, and backs did a good job running the ball. We got to prepare like we did this week and go on the road again next week.”