Jasper, Ga — Friday night lights are back as high school football got going with many preseason scrimmages taking place on Friday, August 1st. One of those games taking place would be the Pickens Dragons hosting the Fannin Rebels. Pickens, after coming up a couple of games short of a playoff berth last season, look to take that next step in year two under head coach Craig Bennett. Fannin, has been a steady program under head coach Chad Cheatham and are once again favorites to win their region and make another playoff run.

The teams would play a normal game with the lone exceptions being that special teams plays were not live, and the quarterbacks couldn’t be hit. The Rebels, got the ball to start the game. Just as they crossed the 50-yd line, the Dragons would force and recover a fumble. The Dragons, would get a big chunk play as Hayden Jones would connect with McCord Purdy. Purdy’s run after the catch was sprung by a great down field block by Jaxson Carver. A few plays later, Freshman Cal Morrison, would punch it in from three yards out to give the Dragons a 7-0 lead with 8:08 left in the first quarter.

Later on in the first quarter, Tanner Bail, who came in at QB, found Purdy, who made one defender miss and took it all the way for a 47-yd touchdown. At the end of the first quarter, the unofficial score was 14-0 Pickens.

Not much doing for either team in the second quarter as both teams would move the ball a little bit, but were unable to come up with any points. Heading into the half, the Dragons still unofficially led the Rebels, 14-0.

About midway through the third quarter, Morrison, would find pay dirt for the second time as he would score on a 2-yd run. With 6:40 left in the third quarter, the Dragons had an unofficial lead of 21-0. The Dragons defense, would then force its second fumble of the game as Hagen Mullins would pick it up and take it to the house for the touchdown. With 5:47 left in the third, Pickens now led the Rebels, 28-0 unofficially.

On their next possession, the Rebels, would get on the board for their first touchdown of the game after a 13-yd run by quarterback Nate O’Neal. The PAT was good and with 4:38 left in the third, the Dragons unofficially led the Rebels, 28-7. After the Fannin defense forced a three and out, the Rebels, would once again drive into Dragon territory as we headed to the fourth quarter.

After a few hard runs by Casen Bailey, he would cap it off with a 4-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 10:11 left in the game, the unofficial score was now 28-14 Dragons. On their next possession, the Dragons, would answer as a long run would set up a 3-yd touchdown run by Kaleb “kk” Jordan. The PAT was good and with 7:58 left in the game, the Dragons, were now unofficially ahead by a score of 35-14.

The last score and probably the most incredible part of the game came towards the very end as coach Cheatham and Bennett came together to help a young man with special needs score a touchdown. As he scored, players from both Fannin and Pickens ran over to help celebrate. The unofficial final score for the game was 35-21 in favor of Pickens.

Both teams will again be in action next week as they tune up for the final time before the regular season begins. The Dragons, will be at East Hall, while the Rebels will take on White County.