Pickens Dragons Set Sonoraville Phoenix on Fire 50-21

Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Pickens High School Dragons football team kicked off the 2012 season, the inaugural PHS campaign for new head coach Chris Parker, with a fire breathing 50-21 crushing of the Sonoraville Phoenix. The Dragons kept the Phoenix from rising, with a 36-7 halftime lead, before finishing with the 50-21 win.The Dragons trotted out quarterback, Tanner Brumby, defensive back Tate Rizoti, linebacker Zach McCoy, and offensive lineman Tyler Harrington as the captains. The Phoenix won the toss and chose to receive the kick.

The Phoenix looked to take off early with a 25 yard run for a touchdown by Jackson Murray. The TD run gave Sonoraville a 7-0 lead with 10:18 left in the first quarter.

In the early stages of the game, it looked as though it would be a long day for the Dragons as the first play from scrimmage resulted in a fumble recovered by Sonoraville’s Kenny Cooper, on the Pickens’ 18 yard line. However, Ty Prather turned in an interception for the Dragons, giving Pickens the ball back on its own 20 yard line.

The Dragons caught fire on the possession, which ended with a 52 yard touchdown run by Shannon Brooks. Pickens picked up the pace, coming out in a no huddle attack designed to take advantage of the Phoenix’ lack of depth.

“We knew they had a lot of two way players and we knew we didn’t have any so that helps. So we figured late in the game we would have an advantage but we figured early in the game they might have an advantage, and that’s kind of what happened,” Parker said.

With 6:31 left in the first quarter the game was tied 7-7. Despite Marcus Byrd returning the kick off to the Pickens’ 45, the Dragons’ defense held the Phoenix to -2 yards on the possession, due to two incomplete passes, and defensive lineman, Tatem Dean, planting Clay Grisham in the backfield for the loss.

The Dragons took over on Pickens’ 35 yard line, due to a shanked punt. Following an eight yard run by Brooks, Brumby’s 31 yard quarterback keeper gave Pickens a first down on the Phoenix 24 yard line.

A screen pass to Brooks put Pickens on the six with first and goal. A Dragons’ disaster was avoided when offensive lineman, Tyler Harrington fell on a fumbled snap to save the drive.

After a speed sweep to Jake Dean put Pickens on the one yard line, Brumby scored on a quarterback sneak giving the Dragons a 14-7 lead with 3:11 left in the first quarter.

A failed onside kick gave the Phoenix the ball on the Pickens’ 47 yard line; however the Dragons’ defense again stepped up forcing a three and out.

On the ensuing possession Pickens picked up a touchdown via “trickeration.” On first and 10 from the Pickens 20, the Dragons ran a double pass, which ended with Brooks throwing a bomb to fellow running back, Jake Coleman, for an 80 yard touchdown pass and reception. With 1:23 left in the first Pickens held a 21-7 lead.

Murray again had a great return on the kick off, giving the Phoenix the ball at the 50 yard line. The Phoenix was able to move the ball down to the Pickens 19 yard line; however, the drive stalled after the Dragons’ defense held Sonoraville on fourth down.

Pickens struggled to move the ball and eventually punted back to Phoenix, downing the ball at the Sonoraville 10 yard line. On second and nine from the Phoenix 11, the Dragons brought the heat, resulting in a sack/fumble.

Defensive lineman, Matt Devroy, picked up the loose ball and scored the fourth Dragons touchdown of the game. With 9:03 left in the first half, Pickens led 28-7.

The Dragons’ defense stayed hot on the next possession. After holding the Phoenix to yet another three and out, the Dragons blocked the Phoenix punt and took over on offense on the Sonoraville 36.

Pickens’ offense moved the ball steadily down to the Phoenix two yard line; however, with 3:59 left in the half and the Dragons having first and goal from the two, a post play fracas resulted in two players (one from each team) being ejected from the game and a 10-15 minute delay in game play.

Parker later spoke about the “extracurricular activity” with FYN explaining how he addressed the chippiness that marred the first half.

“That’s not who we are. I don’t know who was starting what, or what. I don’t know, but we’re not going to be apart of that. Even if we were causing five or 10 percent of that, that’s too much. We’re not going to cause any of that stuff,” Parker said.

On third and goal from the sixteen, Brumby hooked up with Jake Dean on a tunnel screen for a touchdown. On the extra point attempt, Brumby dropped the snap. Forced to scramble, he eventually scored the two-point conversion, giving Pickens a 36-7 lead that the Dragons took into half time.

On the first drive of the second half, the Dragons marched 72 yards to the end zone. Brooks scored on a nine yard run that gave Pickens a 43-7 lead with 8:44 left in the third quarter.

The Phoenix eventually scored two more touchdowns, as Parker played Pickens’ back ups throughout the second half. The last touchdown of the game came via Jake Coleman, who scored on a 21 yard touchdown run that put Pickens up 50-21.

Parker was pleased with Pickens’ performance.

“All plays when you execute look pretty good. For the most part, we executed pretty well and we did what were supposed to do, especially in the first half.”

The Dragons will next face Northwest Whitfield at home on September 14, 2012.

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2012 Pickens PHS FootB Highlight Film Sonoraville Game from Fetch on Vimeo.

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