Dragons Pick Up Road Win Keep Pace In The Region Race

Dragon's Corner, Featured Stories, Team FYN Sports

The Pickens High School Dragons football team traveled to LaFayette High School to take on the Ramblers. This game was the first road game for Pickens since September 19th. It was also be the first meeting between the two teams. LaFayette’s Homecoming would serve as the backdrop for this game; however, the celebration was short lived as the Dragons’ offense roasted the Ramblers to the tune of 69 points, en route Pickens picking up the 69-34 win.

The Dragons got the ball first and started on the Pickens 35 after the opening kickoff traveled out of bounds. The possession led to quick points as the Dragons pulled out the double pass when Marcus Byrd would swing it to Shannon Brooks and Brooks would load up and launch it down field to a wide open Zack Herman for a 65-yd score.

That make it 7-0 Dragons with 11:46 left in the first quarter. The Ramblers started on Lafayettes own 16 and the Dragon defense forced a three and out to give the offense the ball back.

Marcus Byrd then ran it in from 16 to stretch the lead to 14-0 with 7:51 left in the quarter. LaFayette returned the kickoff back to cut the lead in half 14-7 with 7:38 still left in the opening quarter. A fumble by the Dragons soon after the ensuing kickoff led to another score for the Ramblers. A missed PAT left the score at 14-13 Dragons with 6:22 left in the 1st.

Shannon Brooks would run it in from 62-yds out to make it 21-13 with 5:30 still left in the 1st quarter. As we moved into the 2nd quarter, the Ramblers had it at the goal line for a 4th down play and the defense would hold giving the ball back to the offense. The drive would last one play as Shannon Brooks would rumble 98 yards for the td giving the Dragons a 28-13 lead with 11:32 left in the 1st half. LaFayette would come back and get a 16-yd td pass with 8:40 left in the half to make it 28-20.

Shannon Brooks scored on the next drive taking it in from six, increasing the Dragon lead to 35-20 with 7:40 left in the half. Brooks would then again get in from 1-yd out to stretch it to 42-20 with 4:24 left in the half.

Byrd got in from two yards out for a halftime score of 49-20 with the Dragons lead. LaFayette returned the third quarter opening kickoff to the house to make the score 49-27 with 11:38 left in the third.

Byrd connected with Herman for a touchdown pass to make it 56-27 with 9:47 left in the 3rd. LaFayette came back with a 54-yd TD pass that cut the lead to 56-34 and 9:22 left in the third.

After a long kickoff return by Caleb Brooks, Chris Pittman scored from the four, putting Pickens up 62-34 with 8:33 still left in the third. After coming in at quarterback, Caleb Cowart, got the final score of the night after a 5-yd run that finished a 69-34 win for Dragons.

Offensive totals for Pickens: 18 first downs, 3/5 on third down, and 1/1 on fourth down. 699 total yards on 50 plays, a 13.98 average, 431 yards rushing on 36 carries for an 11.97 average, and 268 yards passing on 14 attempts for a 19 yard average.

Passing: Marcus Byrd was 9/12 for 199 yards and a touchdown and Shannon Brooks was 1/1 for 65 yards and touchdown and Caleb Cowart was 1/1 for 4 yards

Rushing: Shannon Brooks ran it 13 times for 274 yards and 4 touchdowns Marcus Byrd ran it 11 times for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns Chris Pittman ran it 7 times for 45 yards and a touchdown and Caleb Cowart ran it one time for 5 yards and a touchdown

Receiving: Zack Herman had 4 catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns Hunter Golden had 4 catches for 70 yards Shannon Brooks had 1 catch for 45 yards and Bradley Ragano had 2 catches for 30 yards

Defensively, the Dragons were led by Dillon Gasaway with 13 total tackles 7 solo and 6 assisted, and Caleb Brooks had 11 tackles 8 solo and 3 assisted

Next Friday the Dragons will once again be on the road as they head to Ringgold, Ga to take on the Generals of Heritage. Heritage is 4-3 overall and 2-2 in region play after what many are calling an upset over Ridgeland. Pickens is 6-1 overall and 3-1 in region play and have won three straight ball games

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