Dragons Defense on Fire in Spartans Scrimmage

The Pickens High School Dragons hosted the Spartans of West Hall in a preseason scrimmage. The Dragons were victorious, posting a 28-16 win. The Dragons were lead by a defense that recorded three turnovers, including sack/fumbles on two straight possessions.The Dragons offense began the day starting on its on 20 yard line, there were no kickoff nor punt returns in the game. Pickens was able to move the ball successfully with several keepers by quarter back Tanner Brumby. Brumby was perfect on his first drive, until he threw an interception trying to avoid a sack.

The Spartan offense took over on its own 20 yard line. A few miscues by the Pickens defense, including an offsides penalty on fourth and one, and a facemask penalty, helped the Spartans move the ball. Spartan, Zach English’s big reception set up first and goal for West Hall on the eight yard line. T.J. Willams put the Spartans up by a touchdown, and the subsequent extra point made it 7-0 West Hall, at the end of the first quarter.

The second quarter began with Pickens going three and out on its first possession. The Dragons defense bowed up and held the Spartans to a subsequent three and out as well.

The Dragons’ offense came roaring back despite a blocking penalty on a reverse run by Tate Rizoti that moved the Pickens offense back to the 12 yard line. On second and forever, Shannon Brooks broke an 88 yard scamper that tied the game, after the extra point by Titus Henderson, with 7:50 left in the first half.

After a three and out by the Spartan offense, that featured John Burmeister rushing the quarterback into an incompletion, Kalyn Brooks drilling the quarterback a millisecond after the pitch, and Brooks again barely missing a sack, the Pickens offense took over on its own 33 yard line.

The offense started off going in the wrong direction, with a sack of Brumby. He responded with a bomb to Titus Henderson, that was caught for a touchdown, despite pass interference on the defense. After Henderson’s extra point, the Dragons lead 14-7.

On the ensuing Spartan possession Burmeister forced a fumble that was recovered by Thomas Howard, giving the Dragons the ball on the Spartan nine yard line. Pickens scored when Brumby hit, David Culbreth on a tunnel screen. Pickens led 21-7 with 3:03 left in the half.

On the very next possession, Brooks recorded a sack/fumble, which was recovered by Clay Lawson. After a touchdown run by Eric Collins, the Dragons were up 28-7 with 2:45 left in the half.

The Spartans, despite having just giving up three touchdowns, did not lie down. West Hall running back, Rico Jones responded with a 79 yard touchdown run, to cut the lead to fifteen, 28-13, West Hall kicker, Connor Kirkland, missed the extra point attempt. The Dragons ran the clock out to end the half.

The Spartans came out in the second half with a long pass to Jones that put the ball on the Pickens 48 yard line. After a nine yard keeper from quarterback, Deandre Peoples, West Hall went for it on fourth and inches and Cole Davis stuffed the back in the backfield giving Pickens the ball on the Dragon forty.

Pickens played Lawson at quarterback in the second half. He did not start off well, as he threw a pick to Peoples that gave the ball back to the Spartans. A Spartan block in the back on the interception return, put the ball on the West Hall 36 yard line.

The Dragon defense, breathing fire all night, was up to the task as Cody Childers, and Burmeister, met the running back in the backfield on the first down. Brooks got a sack on second down. Following a false start, on third and eternity, quarterback Chandler Newton, scrambled for what appeared to be a first down, but a clipping penalty brought the ball back. Newton then hit Anthony Strickland on an intermediate pass that Strickland was able to turn into a big play after making several Dragons miss. He was eventually brought down on the Pickens 37 yard line.

The Dragon defense was able to hold the Spartans to a field goal, the final points of the night.

The Dragon defense spent the majority of the night in the offensive backfield the remainder of the night, making multiple plays behind the line of scrimmage and forcing a plethora of punts. The offense struggled to move the ball, with several miscues that led to fumbles and incomplete passes, but no turnovers.

The Dragons first game will be Friday, August 26th at Dawson.