On Halloween night, the Pickens JV team played host to the Tigers of Adairsville. It was a game full of ups and downs, and both teams had very exciting plays. Although the Dragons kept it close for most of the game, the Tigers was able to pull away late and win the game 33-21.Adairsville started the game with the ball and returned the opening kickoff to their own 31-yard line. The Tigers moved the ball with great efficiency, picking up first downs over and over. After moving down to the Dragon 31-yard line, the Tigers ran it in for a long score. With 8:40 remaining in the game, the Dragons were trailing 7-0.

Isaac Chatman returned the kickoff for the Dragons to their own 20-yard line. Orlandis Elrod and Jerry Nelson were getting carry after carry, moving the Dragons down the field. On a fourth and two play in Tiger territory, the Dragons ran a counter play in which Elrod picked up more than enough yardage. The Pickens was on the Tiger 33-yard line when things turned south. A holding call backed the offense up, and then the Tigers intercepted a pass that ended the Dragons’ chances at a score on Pickens’ opening drive.

Following the turnover, the Dragon defense looked to hold the Tigers. Jacob Pair made a big play when he stopped the quarterback for a loss on an option play. The Tigers’ offense found itself in a long third down situation, but a long pass picked all of it up. Josh Massey again made a big play in the backfield for the Dragons, leaving the Tigers with a 3rd and 18. And again the offense found a way out, this time tossing a 38-yard touchdown pass. Following a penalty on the PAT, the Tigers converted the two-point conversion and led 15-0 with just: 26 left in the first quarter.

Elrod came up big for the Dragons on the ensuing kickoff. He returned the kick all the way down to the Tiger 17-yard line. He then moved the ball inside the 5-yard line and had the Dragons in perfect position to punch it in. Two straight runs and a scare on a fumble left Pickens with a 3rd and goal from the 7-yard line. Caleb Cowart dropped back to pass and found Walker Lawrence in the end zone for a Pickens touchdown. Sky Diprima made the PAT and the Dragons were trailing 15-7 with 8:31 remaining in the first half.

The Dragon defense did its job on the next possession, forcing a three-and-out punt from the Tigers. The Tiger defense returned the favor, but it got some help. On a long third down, the Pickens coaches set up a double pass and had a receiver wide open. He tried to take off with it before he caught it, and the pass fell incomplete. Elijah Lawson provided great coverage on the punt and made an impressive tackle.

Adairsville made quick work of their next drive, scoring in just two plays on a 56-yard pass. The PAT was no good, but the Tigers had extended their lead to 21-7.

Derek Messner brought back the kickoff to the Dragon 36-yard line. Elrod, Nelson, and Chatman carried the ball for the Dragons, picking up four or more yards with nearly every carry. After Chatman took the ball to the Tiger 6-yard line, Nelson punched it in. Diprima made the PAT and the Dragons inched closer trailing 21-14 at half time.

Chatman returned the kickoff to the Dragon 43-yard line to start the third quarter. The usual guys carried the ball down the field effectively. This time, they did it methodically, using up much of the clock. With only 4:21 left in the third quarter, Elrod scooted into the end zone from six yards out. Diprima again was successful on the PAT, and the Dragons had knotted things up at 21 apiece.

The Tiger offense was showing no signs of slowing down, moving down to the Dragon 4-yard line in nearly two minutes. A bad snap caused the quarterback to fumble but he safely recovered it. Alex Pittman made a clutch tackle for loss setting up and 3rd and goal for the Tigers. An incomplete pass made it fourth down with seconds remaining in the third quarter. As the rain began to fall, Zayne Burtz sacked the quarterback and the ball was turned over on downs.

Following the great defensive stand, Pickens was unable to do anything with the ball and had to punt away. The Tigers marched down the field and scored on a nine yard run. The offense was unable to add the points after, but led 27-21 with only 4:15 remaining in the game.

Pickens found itself in a hole early in the drive, facing a fourth down and long. The Dragons attempted the double pass again, but the first pass missed badly and rolled out of bounds giving the Tigers the ball at the Dragon 30-yard line. Just a few plays later, the Tigers were back in the end zone and leading 33-21 with 1:04 remaining in the game.

The Dragons attempted to get something going late, but a running back pass was picked off and the Tigers kneeled to end the game.