Pickens Captures First Region Title With Senior Night Win Over Ridgeland

Team FYN Sports

Last night, the PHS Dragons varsity football team hosted the Ridgeland Panthers for Senior Night. Not only was it Senior Night, it was a region championship game. With Pickens sitting at 4-0, & Ridgeland sitting at 3-0 in the region, this became the deciding game for the 6-AAAA crown. Prior to the ball game, the Seniors for the team, cheerleaders, & band were all recognized. The most special one, was Jordan Simonds. Simonds, lost his life in an automobile accident last year. This would’ve been his Senior year. Jordan’s mother, Jessica, represented him. She was surrounded by Jordan’s fellow Seniors, & was presented a bouquet of flowers. The Simond’s family has set up a Memorial Scholarship fund in his name. If you haven’t already, please go contribute in any way you can.

 

Pickens won the toss, but elected to defer to the 2nd half, giving Ridgeland’s speedy offense first possession. After a big loss on 3rd down, the Panthers were forced to punt from the back of their own end zone. The Dragons took over at the Ridgeland 30-yd line. It took Pickens one play from scrimmage to find points as the Dragons worked the double pass to perfection. CJ Streicher sent it over to Michael Burrell, then Burrell connected with a wide open Brady Moore for a 30-yd TD pass, giving the Dragons a 7-0 lead, with 11:27 to go in the 1st. Pickens looked to catch the Panthers off guard again with a surprise onside attempt, but were unable to recover it. Ridgeland used the good starting field position to drive down the field, & cap it off with a 3-yd TD run to make it 7-7 with 9:59 left in the 1st. Ridgeland then took the lead after a 47-yd TD pass, to make it 14-7, with 7:45 left in the opening quarter. The Dragons, were able to drive down the field, and get a 21-yd field goal from Jose Sanchez to make it 14-10 Ridgeland, going to the 2nd.

 

Pickens, regained the lead at the 9:36 mark of the 2nd quarter after Robert Davis barreled his way in from 7-yds out, to make it 17-14. Ridgeland, looked to tie things up with a long field goal attempt, but Kaleb Ray came swooping from the left side and blocked the kick, giving the Dragons possession at their own 27-yd line. On the very next play, Streicher found an open Ray near the sideline & he took it 73-yds for the score, giving Pickens a 24-14 lead, as we’d head into halftime.

 

The Dragons, got the ball to start the 2nd half, & methodically drove it down the field, chewing up nearly half of the 3rd quarter on their first drive. The drive ended with Davis getting into the end zone from 13-yds out after nearly losing it prior to scoring. That made it 31-14 Dragons, going to the 4th. The defense for Pickens, as they have all season long, really stepped up in the 2nd half shutting down the high powered Panther offense. Ridgeland’s only other score came with 19 seconds left to go in the game. Your final in this one, Pickens 31, Ridgeland 21. With the win, Pickens secures it’s first region championship in school history.

 

Region Standings:

Pickens: 9-0 (5-0) 6-AAAA region champions

Ridgeland: 5-3 (3-1)

Heritage: 4-5 (3-2)

NW Whitfield: 5-3 (2-2)

LaFayette: 4-4 (1-3)

SE Whitfield: 3-5 (1-3)

Gilmer: 0-8 (0-4)

 

Stats:

1st Downs: 19

3rd Down: 7/15

4th Down: 3/4

Total Yards: 455

Rush Yards: 323

Pass Yards: 132

CJ Streicher: 2/7, 102 yards, 1 TD, 29 rushes, 151 yards,

Michael Burrell: 1/1, 30 yards, 1 TD, 6 rushes, 30 yards, 3 tackles, 3 punts for 109 yards

Robert Davis: 13 rushes, 75 yards, 2 TD, 1 catch, 29 yards, 2 kick returns for 47 yards

Kaleb Ray: 1 catch, 73 yards, 1 TD, 2 tackles, 1 pass break up, 1 blocked field goal, 1 kick return, 24 yards

Brady Moore: 1 catch, 30 yards, 1 TD, 8 tackles

Trevon Hawkins: 16 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 pass break up, 7 rushes, 31 yards

Dallas McHale: 8 tackles

Andrew Macom: 7 tackles, 6 solo, 2 tackles for loss, 2 pass break ups

Hunter Hermann: 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 pass break up

Jose Sanchez: 4/4 on PAT, 1 field goal from 21 yards

 

Pickens, will look to complete it’s first ever undefeated season next week when they travel to Walker County to take on the LaFayette Ramblers. Game time is set for 7:30.

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