This past Friday, the Pickens Dragons, welcomed the Pepperell Dragons to, you guess it, Dragons Stadium, for a non-region showdown. Pepperell, is out of the 2A classification. This was the 11th meeting all time between these two teams dating back to 1958. Pepperell, had gotten the better of Pickens in the first 10 meetings, going 9-0-1. The tie came in the first game in 1958. After a big win over Stone Mountain two weeks ago, the Dragons of Pickens looked to continue the early momentum built in this 2018 season. Prior to the game, Michael Burrell & Haley Aiken were named Mr & Miss PHS for the 2018-19 school year.

The Pepperell Dragons, won the toss, but elected to differ to the 2nd half. That meant the Dragons from Pickens, would get first crack at points. Pepperell collected the first turnover of the game as they picked off a CJ Streicher pass intended for Zach Goss & took it deep inside Pickens territory. The defense for Pickens stepped up after being backed up near their own goal line, & forced Pepperell into a field goal attempt. The field goal attempt was pushed left, & the Dragons of Pickens, would take back over on offense. Last week’s TeamFYNSports Sports Writer Player Of The Week Brady Moore, provided the first points of the game after a 12-yd TD run at the 6:33 mark, making it 7-0 Pickens. Just as the 2nd quarter got underway, Robert Davis took a hand off and plowed his way in from 4-yds out to make it 14-0 Pickens with 11:55 to go in the first half. Streicher, would then barrel his way into the end zone from 12-yds out. Making it 21-0 Pickens over Pepperell, as we hit halftime.

Pepperell, wasted little time to get on the board to start the 3rd quarter. Pepperell used a 13-yd TD pass to score their first points of the game, making it 21-7 Pickens, with 10:48 to go in the 3rd. Pickens answered that score, with a touchdown of their own as Streicher found the end zone for the 2nd time. This score came from 2-yds out, giving Pickens a three score lead, 28-7, with 7:32 left in the 3rd. 3 minutes & 12 seconds later, Streicher again was in the end zone with another 2-yd TD run, giving him three on the evening. Pickens was able to score two points on a conversion after a mishap on the PAT attempt. They led Pepperell 36-7 with 4:20 to go in the 3rd. Pepperell, scored near the end of the 3rd after a 6-yd TD run to make it 36-14 Pickens, going to the 4th. The final score of the night came after a 7-yd TD run for Jarod Whitmore to make what would be your final score, 43-14 Pickens.

STATS

First Downs: 21

Third Down: 9-13

Fourth Down: 1-1

Total Yards: 448

Rushing Yards: 382

Passing Yards: 66

Total Takeaways: 2 (1 fumble, 1 interception)

CJ Streicher: 1-2 for 45 yards, 1 catch for 21 yards, 24 rushes, 144 yards, 3 TD, 1 punt for 39 yards

Michael Burrell: 1-1 for 21 yards, 3 rushes, 25 yards, 2 tackles, 1 INT

Trevon Hawkins: 14 rushes, 52 yards, 5 tackles, 1 punt return for 16 yards, 1 kick return for 19 yards

Brady Moore: 6 rushes, 50 yards, 1 TD, 4 tackles, 1 pass breakup

Robert Davis: 9 rushes, 50 yards, 1 TD

Jarod Whitmore: 7 rushes, 41 yards, 1 TD, 1 fumble recovery

Zach Goss: 1 catch for 45 yards

Hunter Hermann: 10 total tackles, 2 TFL

Clayton Holland: 6 total tackles

Kaleb Ray: 6 total tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup

Jay Jones: 5 total tackles

Andrew Macom: 5 total tackles, 1 sack

Logan Joiner: 5/5 on PAT

Jose Sanchez: 6 kickoffs, 5 touch backs

Pickens, will once again be home next Friday as they welcome a former region opponent. The White County Warriors will come to Jasper for another non-region game. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30.