Dragons battle former region foe in home opener
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports August 29, 2026
Jasper, GA — The Pickens Dragons were home for the first time during the 2026 season as they welcomed former region foe, the Lumpkin Indians, to Dragon Stadium. The Dragons, were coming in looking to bounce back after a tough loss to North Cobb Christian. The Indians, were looking to build off of a back and forth win over Dawson last week. Tied at 21 at the half, it would be the Indians who would use a 21-7 second half to pick up the win, 42-28.
The Dragons, would win the toss and elect to receive the opening kick off. After a short gain on first down, Tanner Bail, would connect with Brock Teal on a quick pop pass and Teal would take 69-yards for the touchdown. The PAT by Toccoa McGraw was good, and with 11:21 left in the first quarter, the Dragons were up, 7-0. The first possession by the Indians was filled with penalties. Lumpkin thought they had a 3rd and long converted, but a penalty would force a punt.
The ensuing punt would be shanked, and the Dragons would take over at the Indian 35-yd line. The Dragons, would end up having to settle for a field goal attempt. The kick, would be pushed to the left and the Indians would take over at their 20-yd line. The Indians, using their run game, would March down and tie the game after a 1-yd TD run by Joseph Alvarez. Heading to the second quarter, the game was tied at 7.
Sawyer Purdy, would set up the Dragon offense with fantastic field position after a big kick off return. Pickens, would capitalize on that field position as Cal Morrison would power in for a 1-yd TD run. With 10:35 left to go in the half, the Dragons were up, 14-7. The Indians, would take their first lead of the game on back to back touchdowns as Kolson Howell ran in from 3-yards out and Howell would find Mac Powell for a 6-yd touchdown.
The Dragons, would respond as Bail would find Purdy on a screen pass. Purdy, would break a couple tackles, pick up a massive block, run to the other side of the field, and get through the crowd for a 70-yard score. The PAT was good and with just under a minute left in the half, the game was tied at 21. The Indians, had one more shot before the half to score, but a sack by Teal would send it to the break with the game deadlocked at 21.
The second half started in a not so fun way for the Indians as the kick off was fielded at their 2-yd line. After a 3-yard gain on first down, Weston Veater, would rumble for a 65-yard run into Dragon territory. Alvarez, would finish the drive off with a 12-yard TD run. On the ensuing kick off, it looked like Ike Wyngaard took it 83-yards for the score, but a holding penalty was called on the Dragons.
On fourth down, the Dragons, would then run a fake punt as Teal would break through a few would be tacklers to pick up the first down. Later in the drive, the Dragons would go for it again on fourth down. Pickens, would not be so fortunate this time around as the Indians would stop the play short. Heading to the fourth quarter, the Indians led it, 28-21.
Lumpkin, would add to their lead on their next possession as Howell would run it in from 5-yards out to make it 35-21 with 9:24 left in the game. The Dragons, would get a big run by Wyngaard into Indian territory. An unsportsmanlike penalty would be called on Pickens to back them up a bit. Cohen Carden, would end the drive with an interception at the goal line. The Indians, would once again use the run game to add to the lead as Alvarez scored from a yard out to make it 42-21.
The Dragons, would pick up a late score with 34 seconds left as Bail would find Wyngaard for a 32-yard touchdown pass. The ensuing onside kick was recovered by Lumpkin and the Indians would kneel out the rest of the clock as they pick up the win, 42-28.
The Dragons, will be on the road next Friday as they take on the Fannin Rebels on September 4th. The Rebels, will also be coming off of a tough loss as they fell to rival Gilmer, 35-14. Kick off is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons fall in regular season finale; await postseason destination
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports November 1, 2025
Dahlonega, Ga — It was the spookiest night of the year as the Pickens Dragons made their way up to Dahlonega to take on the Indians of Lumpkin County on Friday, October, 31st. The Indians, came into the game needing a win and a Dawson loss to get into the playoffs. The Dragons, already in the playoffs, were looking for a better seed prior to the selections. After building a 21-3 first half lead, the Indians, were able to hang on a pick up a 29-22 win.
The Indians, would win the toss and elect to receive to begin the ball game. After a balance of the run game and the intermediate pass game, the Indians would strike first with a 27-yd touchdown run by Nolan Matthews. The PAT was good and with 6:43 left in the first quarter, Lumpkin led Pickens, 7-0. The Dragons, would drive down the field and were set up near the goal line as time expired in the first quarter.
After a couple of pass attempts by Tanner Bail looking for MCord Purdy and Ike Wyngaard fell incomplete, the Dragons, would settle for a 30-yd field goal make by Purdy to trim the Indian lead to 7-3 with 11:54 left in the first half. The Indians, would respond on their next possession with a 17-yd touchdown pass from Mason Hester to Mac Powell. The PAT was good and with 6:20 left in the half, Lumpkin was in front, 14-3.
Just before the end of the first half, Matthews, would power into the end zone for his 2nd touchdown run of the game. The PAT was good and the Indians would take a 21-3 lead into the break.
The Dragons, would start the second half with the ball and would end their opening drive with points as Cal Morrison would run it in from 2-yds out. The PAT was good and with 8:26 left in the third, Lumpkin led Pickens, 21-10. After getting a stop defensively, the Dragons, would get a big catch down the sideline to keep the drive alive. The Dragons, would cap off the drive with points as Bail found Jaxon Carver, for a 33-yd touchdown.
The two point conversion try would fall just short and with 1:27 left in the third, the Indian lead was cut to 21-16. Just before the end of the third, A Hester pass attempt was batted in the air and picked off by the Dragons. On the first play after the interception, Bail took a shot into the end zone for Purdy, but they could not connect. Heading to the fourth, Lumpkin led Pickens, 21-16.
The Dragons, would cash in on the turnover as Morrison would barrel into the end zone after a 3-yd run. The two point conversion attempt was no good and with 11:05 left in the game, the Dragons had the lead, 22-21. The Indians, on their next possession, would ride the run game with the tandem of Hester and Matthews. Hester, would finish the drive with an 11-yd touchdown run. The two point conversion attempt was good and with 8:46 left, Lumpkin led it, 29-22.
The Dragons, on their next series, would be faced with 4th down. It would fall short and the Indians would take over. Behind the legs of Matthews, the Indians were able to convert several third downs and drain the clock as Lumpkin would come away with the win, 29-22.
Final Regular Season 6-AAA Standings:
North Hall: 10-0 (7-0) *Region Champs
GAC: 8-2 (6-1) *#2 seed. will be in the private school bracket
Lumpkin: 6-4 (4-3) #3 seed
Pickens: 7-3 (4-3) #4 seed
White County: 3-7 (3-4)
Dawson: 4-6 (3-4)
Chestatee: 3-7 (1-6)
Johnson-Gainesville: 0-10 (0-7)
North Hall, GAC, Lumpkin, and Pickens look to be the representatives for region 6-AAA heading into the playoffs. We should know by the end of the weekend where these four teams are seeded and where they will be going. North Hall and GAC will be at home to begin the playoffs, while in all likelihood, Lumpkin and Pickens will begin on the road. Playoffs will begin on Friday, November 14th.