Dragons take on Broncos in first time meeting

PHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Jasper, Ga — It was a day of remembrance as the Pickens Dragons welcomed the East Forsyth Broncos to Dragon Stadium on Friday, September 11th. This marked the first time these two teams have ever met on the football field. The Broncos, came in with a perfect 3-0 record while the Dragons, came in riding high off of their first win of the season last week. After an hour and a half weather delay, the game would get going and it would be the Broncos who would come away with a 33-13 victory.

 

The Dragons, would win the toss and differ to the second half. On their first possession, the Broncos, took up nearly half the clock as a 10 play drive consisting of all runs ended with a 3-yd touchdown run by Tripp Ferguson. The extra points attempt would be missed. The Broncos, would hold a 6-0 lead. The Dragons, on their first possession, would get a pair of nice runs from Ike Wyngaard. A third down pass attempt would fall incomplete and the Dragons would punt.

On the next possession for the Broncos, their run game was once again on display. They would have the ball with a 6 point lead heading to the second quarter.

 

Ferguson, would cap off the second drive for the Broncos with a 4-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 9:46 left in the first half, East Forsyth led Pickens, 13-0. The Broncos, would then execute an onside kick and recover the ball. The Broncos, would cash in on that recovery as Ferguson would score on a short touchdown run for the third time in the first half. The PAT was good and with 5:27 left in the half, East Forsyth led Pickens, 20-0.

The Dragons, would finally get something going on offense as a big play would lead to a nice touchdown run by Wyngaard to put the Dragons on the board. The PAT would be blocked and at the half, the Broncos led the Dragons, 20-6.

 

Neither team would find the end zone in the third quarter. The Broncos, would break the drought after a 31-yd touchdown run by Josh Caballero Jr with 9:27 left to go in the game. The PAT was good and East Forsyth led it, 27-6. The Dragons, would answer with a two play drive as a long catch and run from Tanner Bail to Brock Teal, would lead to a 10-yd touchdown run by Sawyer Purdy. The PAT was good and with just over 8 minutes left, the Broncos led the Dragons, 27-13.

The Broncos, would respond as Ferguson would cap off a scoring drive with his fourth touchdown run of the game. The PAT was no good and the Broncos would take a 33-13 lead. The Dragons, would try to get something going on their next possession, but the Broncos would force a stop, and would kneel out the remaining time on the clock as East Forsyth would come away with the win, 33-13.

 

The Dragons, will be on the road next week for their final non-region game of the regular season as they head to Adairsville to take on the Tigers on Friday, September 18th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.

Dragons pick up road win against Rebels

PHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Blue Ridge, Ga — A 515 battle took place on Friday, September 4th as the Pickens Dragons took on the Fannin County Rebels in non-region action. Both teams, were coming off of losses last week. The Dragons, were looking for their first win of the early season. A back and forth second half saw the Dragons come up with a pair of stops to pick up the win, 45-35.

 

The Rebels, would win the toss and elect to receive the opening kickoff. A pair of big plays would put the Rebels inside Dragon territory. The Dragons, would end up forcing a four and out and would take over at their 32-yd line. On the first play of the drive, Tanner Bail, would take a shot down field to Donnie Marshall. The pass was incomplete, but a penalty on the Rebels would move the ball up to the Dragon 47-yd line.

After a penalty on the Dragons, Bail, would swing the ball to Sawyer Purdy for a nice gain. Ike Wyngaard, would then take a pitch to the Rebel 33-yd line. Another hand off to Wyngaard would gain 7 yards. The Rebels, would then force a turnover as Isaac Watkins would recover a fumble at their 26-yd line. The Rebels, would turn that into points as Cannon Holloway would find Tristen Bernier for a 20-yd touchdown. With 5:43 left in the first quarter, Fannin led Pickens, 7-0.

The Dragons, would finish off the opening quarter by driving deep inside Rebel territory. Heading to the second quarter, the Rebels led it, 7-0.

 

On the first play of the second quarter, Bail, would almost connect with Brock Teal for a touchdown, but it would fall incomplete. Toccoa McGraw, would come in and nail a 27-yd field goal to make it 7-3 with 11:48 remaining in the first half. The Rebels, would respond with a 63-yd touchdown run by Holloway. The PAT was good and with 9:33 left in the half, Fannin led Pickens, 14-3. On the ensuing kick off, Wyngaard, would take it all the way to the Rebel 30-yd line.

A penalty on the Dragons, would bring the ball back to the Dragon 25. A nice run by Travis Vines, would give the Dragons a first down. On 3rd and 5 from their 41-yd line, Bail’s pass attempts to Teal was tipped, but Teal would still bring it in and pick up the first down. The Dragons, would cut into the lead after a 14-yd touchdown pass from Bail to Corban Addison. With 4:02 left in the half, The Rebels were leading, 14-10.

The Rebels, would take advantage of the ensuing kickoff going out of bounds and would cross into Dragon territory on the first play of the drive. A long run would then be negated by a holding penalty. After a miscue on a screen attempt, the Rebels were able to get the penalty yardage and some more back on second down. The Dragons, would force a punt by the Rebels. The snap, would go over the punters head and the Dragons would take over deep inside Rebel territory.

After three straight runs by Wyngaard, the Dragons, would bring in their heavy package as Teal would pick up the first down to keep the drive going. That package would stay on the field as Teal would make a few defenders miss as he would run it in from 8-yards out. The PAT was good and with 15 seconds left in the half, Pickens led Fannin, 17-14. The Rebels, would kneel it to end the first half and at the break, the Dragons were up, 17-14.

 

The Dragons, would start the second half with the football. After picking up a first down after back to back runs from Wyngaard and Vines, the Rebels, would force a punt. Teal, would get off a good punt and the Rebels would take over at their own 17-yard line. A pair of penalties, would derail the first drive of the second half for the Rebels. Or so we thought. The punt would be muffed by the Dragons and the Rebels would recover inside Dragon territory.

On 3rd & 5, Cannon Holloway, would find Reid Holloway for a first down at the Dragon 18 to keep the drive going. The Holloway’s, would connect again on the next play for an 18-yd touchdown. The PAT was good and with 3:59 left in the third, Fannin was back on top, 21-17. On the ensuing kickoff, Purdy, would get a good return out of the squib kick. A facemask penalty, would move the ball up to the Dragon 49 yard line.

On this drive, the Dragons, used the running back tandem of Wyngaard and Vines to great success. Wyngaard, would cap off the drive with a 13-yd touchdown run. A great block by Marshall would help lead Wyngaard in for the score. With 55 seconds left in the third, Pickens led Fannin, 24-21. Just before the end of the third, the Holloway boys would connect again for a long gain down to the Dragon 13-yd line. A 4-yd run by C. Holloway, would send us to the fourth.

 

A penalty to start the fourth quarter would negate the possible go ahead touchdown for the Rebels. On the next play, the Dragons, would give some yardage back after a facemask penalty. The Rebels, would retake the lead after a 9-yd touchdown run by Bernier.  The PAT was good and with 11:41 left to go in the game, Fannin was back on top, 28-24. The ensuing kickoff would be downed at the Dragon 32-yd line.

The Dragons, would respond as Bail would connect with Teal on a TE screen and he would take it 56 yards for the touchdown. The PAT by McGraw was good and with 9:22 left to go in the game, the Dragons were up, 31-28. We were far from over however. The Rebels, would start on their own 10-yd line after a little miscue on the kickoff.  After C. Holloway picked up a first down with his legs, he would connect with Bernier on the next play to the Rebel 45-yd line.

C. Holloway, would pick up his second rushing touchdown of the game as he would run it in from 51-yards out. The PAT was good and 6:59 left to go in the game, the Rebels, would reclaim the lead, 35-31. The Dragons, would take over at their own 36-yard line after a pooch kick. Wyngaard, would break a tackle near the line of scrimmage and take it to the house for a 60-yd touchdown. The PAT was good and just like that, the Dragons were back on top, 38-35 with 6:07 to go.

The Dragons, would then force a three and out and the Rebels would be forced to punt. The Dragons, would take over at their own 31-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Wyngaard, would make his third house call of the night after a 69-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 4:54 left to go in the game, the Dragons, extended their lead to 45-35.

On their ensuing possession, the Rebels, were facing a 3rd and long. C. Holloway, would find Nate O’Neal and he would take it to the Dragon 40-yard line.  The Rebels, would keep the drive alive again as C. Holloway would find Casen Bailey on the screen pass for a first down. The Dragons, would be able to force a four and out and take over at their own 21-yard line. After three straight runs by the Dragons and the final two timeouts used by the Rebels, Fannin would take over at their own 41-yard line with just over a minute left.

C. Holloway, after scrambling to his left, found an open O’Neal on the sideline and he would get out of bounds at the Dragon 37-yard line. The Dragons, would again force a four and out and take over at their own 45-yard line where Bail would take a knee and the Dragons would come away with a 45-35 win.

 

The Dragons, having finally gotten in the win column, will look to add to that total next week as they are back home to battle the East Forsyth Broncos on Friday, September 11th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.

 

Back to Top