Generals Get Second Half Second Wind, Blowout Dragons’ First Half Fire With Exclusive FYN Highlight Video

The Pickens High School Dragons football team traveled on the road to Ringgold, riding a three game losing streak into the home of the Heritage Generals. Despite Pickens possessing a 21-0 first quarter lead, to the Generals went the spoils, as Heritage was victorious 49-35.The Dragons came out on fire in the first quarter. On third and two from the Pickens 28 yard line, sophomore quarterback, Tanner Brumby, connected with senior, Ryan Neill, on a 72 yard bomb, that blew open the game. With just under a minute played in the game, the Dragons were up 7-0.

The Generals gave the Dragons the ball right back, when on the third play of the drive junior, Titus Henderson, intercepted a pass intended for Heritage’s Seth Hickman. The Pickens pick, gave the visitors the ball at their own 36.

On second and long of the ensuing drive, Brumby hit Henderson for an 18 yard gain, putting Pickens in Heritage territory. Another Henderson first down reception followed by a personal foul call in Pickens favor, gave the Dragons the ball on the Heritage 20. Freshman phenom, Shannon Brooks, eventually scored on a nine yard run. With 5:57 left in the first quarter the Dragons led 14-0.

The Generals’ generosity helped Pickens pick up another offensive possession. Heritage drove into Dragon territory; however, Pickens’ Thomas Howard recovered a fumble by Cody Sherlin and Dragons took over on its own 41.

On fourth and one from the 50, Brumby made the play of the game, when he took the quarterback sneak straight to the house of Heritage, scoring a touchdown. Brumby broke through the Generals’ front seven, made two more defenders miss, and didn’t stop until he hit pay dirt. With 2:50 Heritage was down at home, 21-0.

It was a tale of two quarters in the first half, as the Dragons feasted on the hosts’ smorgasbord of turnovers; the home team was paid back in kind, by Pickens. After a defensive stop, Pickens possessed the ball deep in its own territory. On third and forever, Heritage’s Michael Pilcher intercepted a tipped Brumby ball, and the Generals took over on the Dragons’ eight yard line. Quarterback, Jake Sampson later scored on a seven yard keeper, pulling the home team within 14 after the successful extra point attempt in the first 17 seconds of the second quarter.

Another Pickens’ pass was picked off, this one by Caleb Dietz, and returned to the Pickens four yard line. Running back, Ethan Thompson scored on first and goal, and the General had cut the lead to eight. The Dragons blocked the extra point attempt, and score remained 21-13 with 9:55 left in the second quarter.

The teams traded three and out possessions. Pickens put pressure on the punt by Heritage and blocked the kick, giving Pickens possession on the Heritage five yard line. Shannon Brooks scored his second touchdown of the day and the Dragons led 28-13 after the successful point after.

The Dragon defense once again held Heritage to three and out, and Pickens took over on the Dragon 34 yard line. The Dragons leaned on Brooks’ back, successfully driving to the Heritage 28, however, holding call held the Dragons offense back and Pickens was forced to punt the ball back to Heritage with 2:04 left in first half.

The Generals drove through the Dragons’ defense with a steady combination of quick screens, draw plays and even a fourth down quarterback keeper. Sampson eventually hit Sherlin for a 32 yard touchdown completion, with 11.7 seconds left in the half. The Generals’ two point try was successful and the visitors lead was down to seven as the teams went into half time with Pickens up 28-21.

The second half saw things fall apart for Pickens as the roots of Pickens problems surfaced. Heritages’ senior tailback, Thompson, ripped through the young Dragons’ defense repeatedly.

On the first drive of the second half, a 36 yard carry by Thompson, put the Heritage hot on the trail of the Dragons’ lead. A few plays later, Thompson’s touchdown turned the heat of for Heritage. A successful point after saw the game tied 28-28 with only 41 seconds played in the second half.

The Dragons again turned to Brooks, who broke a 20 yard run to put Pickens in Heritage territory at the 42 yard line. On first and 10, junior Jacob Carter, picked off another Pickens pass, and the home team had the ball on the Dragon 45.

The Dragons defensive fire did not wilt, as the visitors recovered a fumble at their own 20 just as Heritage was driving to take the lead. The offense was unable to take advantage of the turnover and punted back to the home team.

With the ball in Pickens territory to begin the possession, the Generals scored in two plays to take the lead. Both plays were runs by Thompson, who put the home team up for good with 5:41 left in the third quarter.

On the next Pickens’ possession Dragon disaster struck again, as Brumby was sacked by junior Michael Moore, and fumbled. The fumble was recovered by Heritage senior, Justin Adekoya, on the Pickens 14 yard line.

Sherlin caught a touchdown a few players later, and the Dragons were down 42-28 with just over three minutes left in the third.

Pickens managed only one first down on its next possession and, after a punt, Heritage took over on its own 34, as the third quarter came to a close.

A generous dose of the Generals ground game eventually saw senior, Brandon Giaccone, score on a 32 yard scamper. The touchdown and extra point put the Generals up 49-28 with 11:34 left in the game.

The Dragons scored once more, after D.J. Williams recovered a fumble in Heritage territory. After, a 27 yard carry by sophomore, Justin Hamrick, put Pickens in position to score; Brumby hooked up with junior, David Culbreth for the game’s last score. The subsequent extra point was blocked.