Jasper, Ga — It finally started to feel like fall on Friday, October 10th as the Pickens Dragons took on the Chestatee War Eagles in a 6-AAA match up. Both teams were coming off bye weeks and looking to rebound after a loss in their last game. The game was back and forth in the first half with the score tied at 21. The Dragons, would outscore the War Eagles 24-7 in the second half to pick up a 45-28 win.

The War Eagles, looked like they had a promising opening drive going, but the Dragons were able to force and recover a fumble to end that drive. In their first drive, the Dragons, couldn’t get anything going and the ball would go back over to the War Eagles. The War Eagles, would get on the board first after a 45-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 2:39 left in the first quarter, Chestatee led Pickens, 7-0.

The Dragons next drive, carried over into the start of the second quarter as they would score on a 4-yd run by Cal Morrison. The PAT was good, and with 11:22 left in the first half, the ball game was tied at 7. The War Eagles, would come right back on their next possession as a long pass completion help set up a 12-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 8:41 left in the first half, the War Eagles led the Dragons, 14-7.

It took the Dragons 1:13 of game time to answer as Morrison would rumble into the end zone after a 47-yd run for his second touchdown of the half. The PAT was good, and with 7:28 left in the first half, the game was tied at 14 a piece. The Dragons, would then get a stop defensively as a botched snap on a punt attempt led to excellent field position for the offense.

The Dragons, would take their first lead of the game after a 27-yd touchdown run by Ike Wyngaard. The PAT was good and with 4:16 left in the first half, the Dragons led the War Eagles, 21-14. Just before the end of the first half, the War Eagles, would score on a 1-yd touchdown run to tie things up at 21 heading into halftime.

The Dragons, would get the ball first in the second half and they would waste no time getting the lead back. A 43-yd run by Morrison, helped set up a 17-yd touchdown run by Wyngaard to put the Dragons up, 28-21. Later on in the third, the Dragons, would extend their lead after Tanner Bail, connected with McCord Purdy for a 43-yd touchdown pass to make it 35-21 Dragons with 4:12 left in the quarter.

A couple minutes into the fourth quarter, the War Eagles, would cut the lead in half after a 12-yd touchdown pass to make it 35-28 with 9:50 left to go in the game. The Dragons, would make it a two score game after a 35-yd field goal by Purdy to make it 38-28 with 7:23 left in the fourth. The Dragons, would add to their lead after blocking a punt attempt by the War Eagles.

Jeremiah Johns, would recover the ball in the end zone for the touchdown to make it 45-28 Dragons with 5:28 left in the game. After getting another stop on defense, the Dragons, would run the rest of the clock out as they picked up a much needed win, 45-28.

6-AAA Football Standings:

North Hall: 7-0 (4-0)

Pickens: 6-1 (3-1)

GAC: 5-2 (3-1)

Lumpkin: 5-2 (3-1)

Chestatee: 3-4 (1-3)

White County: 1-6 (1-3)

Dawson: 2-5 (1-3)

Johnson-Gainesville: 0-7 (0-4)

The Dragons, will be on the road for the first time in over a month next week as they travel to Gainesville to take on the Jonson Knights on Friday, October 17th. The Dragons, will look to stay near the top of the region standings as the regular season starts to wrap up. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.