It had been a season of firsts for the PHS Dragons football team. First undefeated regular season, first region championship, & after last week, first state playoff win. Last Friday, was another first. First time playing in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Their opponent? The Troup County Tigers. Troup came into the game 10-1, & they represented region 5 as the #2 seed. This was the first ever meeting between these two schools in football.

The Tigers, took the opening kickoff deep into Dragon territory to begin the game. A 26-yd run at the 10:55 mark of the opening quarter gave Troup the 7-0 lead. Troup, would then recover a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, & score on the next play after a 31-yd run to make it 14-0, with 10:41 left in the 1st quarter. The Dragons, started building a drive as they crossed midfield & looked to cut into the Tiger lead. Troup, intercepted a pass by CJ Streicher, & would score to make it 21-0, with 8:38 to go in the 1st quarter. The Tigers, would again find the end zone after a 70-yd pass, to make it 28-0 Troup, going to the 2nd.

Troup scored twice in the 2nd quarter. Once after a 4-yd run, & once after a 46-yd run. Pickens, would find the end zone for the first time after a good drive & a 38-yd touchdown run from Senior Michael Burrell, that brought the crowd to their feet. Troup County led the Dragons, 41-7, at the half.

The Tigers added two scores in the 3rd. a 4-yd run, & a 51-yd pass to make it 53-7, going to the 4th. In the 4th, Burrell would find the end zone again as he was able to punch it in from a yard out. Your final, Troup 53, Pickens 14.

Stats:

1st Downs: 19

3rd Down: 4/14

4th Down: 1/4

Total Yards: 359

Rush Yards: 221

Pass Yards: 138

CJ Streicher: 11/25, 138 yards, 19 rushes, 44 yards

Michael Burrell: 13 rushes, 115 yards, 2 TDs, 2 catches, 23 yards, 4 tackles, 6 punts, 244 yards, 3 inside the 20

Trevon Hawkins: 9 rushes, 50 yards, 8 tackles, 1 sack, 1 blocked PAT, 4 kick returns for 74 yards

Hunter Hermann: 7 tackles

Andrew Macom: 7 tackles

Jay Jones: 6 tackles, 1 pass break up

Dallas McHale: 5 tackles

Kaleb Ray: 5 tackles

Jose Sanchez: 2/2 on PAT