Monroe, Ga — It was finally time for playoff football in the state of Georgia after teams got a bye week after the regular season ended to prepare for the first round. The Dragons, came in as a 19 seed in the AAA State Playoffs and traveled to Monroe, Georgia to take on the 14 seeded Monroe Area Purple Hurricanes. After a tightly contested first half, the Purple Hurricanes were able to pull away and advance with a 35-13 win.

The Dragons, would receive the opening kickoff. The opening kick would be fumbled by the Dragons and the Purple Hurricanes would take over at the Dragons 21-yd line. The Dragons defense, would do a good job of holding the Purple Hurricanes to a field goal attempt. The field goal, would be pushed to the left. The two teams would trade possessions the rest of the quarter as they were scoreless heading to the second.

It was much more of the same in the second quarter. The Dragons offense, was looking to find some consistency, while the Purple Hurricanes offense was looking to finish drives. Monroe Area, got on the board at the 3:43 mark of the second quarter after a 37-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and the Purple Hurricanes led the Dragons, 7-0. Just before the end of the first half, Monroe Area, was looking to add to their lead.

The Purple Hurricanes, would look to attempt a 40-yd field goal. Just before the kicker would put his foot on the ball, coach Bennett would call timeout. The kicker, ended up just barely making it, but since the timeout was called, the kick didn’t count. On the second attempt after the timeout, the kick fell short. Monroe Area, would take a 7-0 lead into the half.

The Purple Hurricanes, would start the scoring in the third quarter as they capped off their opening drive in the second half with a 7-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and Monroe Area was up, 14-0. The Dragons, responded with their biggest play of the game of their first drive of the second half as Tanner Bail dumped the ball off to Ike Wyngaard, who made one man miss and was off to the races for a 67-yd touchdown.

The PAT was good and with 6:39 left in the third, Monroe Area’s lead was cut to 14-7. The Purple Hurricanes, would stretch their lead back to two scores after a 2-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and Monroe Area now led Pickens, 21-7. The Purple Hurricanes, would get the ball back near the end of the third. Looking to take a deep shot, the Dragons, were able to intercept the pass and take it back to the Canes 37-yd line as the quarter ended.

The Dragons, who had been looking for a big pass play down field all game long, finally hit on one as Bail connected with McCord Purdy for a 37-yd touchdown. The PAT attempt would be blocked and with 11:51 left in the ball game, Monroe Area led Pickens, 21-13. The Purple Hurricanes, would add an 8-yd touchdown run, and a 1-yd touchdown run to help pull away in the final quarter to pick up the win, 35-13.