Last night, the PHS Dragons varsity football team made the long trip down to Bogart Georgia to face the North Oconee Titans in the first round of the GHSA 4A State Playoffs. This, was this 6th consecutive season that the Dragons found themselves in the playoffs as they came into this game, looking for an upset. Pickens, came into the game as region 6-AAAA #3 seed & North Oconee came in as the #2 seed out of 8-AAAA.

Pickens, won the toss and elected to receive to begin the ball game. North Oconee, would force a punt, & it would be the Titans turn at offense. The Titans, struck first with a 45-yd touchdown run, to make it 7-0 North Oconee at the 9:31 mark of the opening quarter. The Dragons, with help from a spectacular catch by Senior Zach Tetterton, got on the board with a 40-yd field goal by Jose Sanchez, to make it 7-3, with 4:51 to go in the 1st. The Titans, would add to their lead with a 10-yd touchdown run to make it 14-3, going to the 2nd.

About halfway through the 2nd quarter, the Dragons cut into the Titan lead with a 14-yd touchdown pass from CJ Streicher to Alex Snelgrove, to make it 14-10 North Oconee with 6:32 left in the 1st half. A game changer occurred when the Titans took the ensuing kickoff back 91-yds for a touchdown, to make it 21-10 with 6:15 left in the half. As time expired in the 1st half, North Oconee would connect on a 32-yd touchdown pass to give them a 28-10 lead over the Dragons at the break.

Coming out in the 3rd, North Oconee had a long run to get into Dragon territory. The Pickens defense however, was able to hold the Titans to a 35-yd field goal, making it 31-10 with 9:27 left in the 3rd quarter. North Oconee would add a 21-yd touchdown pass at the 4:55 mark of the 3rd to make it 38-10 Titans. The Dragons, got on the board after Streicher threw a dart to Snelgrove & Snelgrove made a diving catch in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yd touchdown. Our score after 3 quarters was 38-17 North Oconee.

Both teams would find the end zone once in the 4th and final quarter. The Titans, scored on a 21-yd touchdown run at the 3:05 mark. Pickens, got their final score of the game with just under a minute left after Snelgrove ran it in from 1-yd out. The final score in this one, 45-24 North Oconee.

Things will be a little different in Jasper next year. Not only will the Dragons lose 22 seniors from this years team, but they will also be in a new region. Pickens will be in 7-AAAA with familiar faces like Heritage, Northwest Whitfield, & Ridgeland. But they’ll also be welcoming two new members to the region with Cedartown & Central-Carrollton.