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.
Dragons drop heart breaker in season finale
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports November 2, 2024
Jasper, Ga – It was a foggy night in Jasper on Friday, November 1st as the Pickens Dragons took on the Lumpkin County Indians. The Dragons, needed at least a win and some help from GAC to get into the playoffs. A win for the Indians, coupled with a GAC loss, would move them up to the #2 seed in 6-AAA. In a game that was back and forth throughout, it came down to the final possession. The Indians, would hold on for a 29-26 win.
The Indians, got the ball first to begin the ball game. The Dragons, were able to get a stop to get the ball to the offense. As the Dragons were approaching mid-field on their opening possession, the Indians were able to force a fumble and recover it. The Indians, would take advantage of the turnover as Nolan Matthews would run it in from 42-yards out. The PAT was good and with 6:45 left in the first quarter, Lumpkin led Pickens, 7-0.
The Dragons, responded with a scoring drive of their own as Hayden Jones scored a 4-yd TD run. The PAT was good and as they headed to the second quarter, Pickens and Lumpkin were tied at 7.
The Indians, were able to retake the lead at the 7:47 mark of the second quarter as Ga Tech WR commit Cal Faulkner, would jump into the end zone after a 4-yd TD run. The PAT was good and Lumpkin led Pickens, 14-7. The Indians, would add to their lead as Matthews would break through for a 47-yd TD. The PAT was good and with 4:24 left in the first half, Lumpkin led Pickens, 21-7.
The Dragons, knew they needed an answer prior to halftime and they got it as Jones found Ike Wyngaard streaking down the middle of the field and connected for a 35-yd TD. The PAT attempt would be blocked. Heading into the half, Lumpkin led Pickens, 21-13.
Like the Indians earlier, the Dragons were able to force and recover a fumble. They would be able to convert that turnover into points as Jones found Sam Hammontree for a 14-yd TD. The PAT was good and the Indians lead was cut down to 21-20. The Dragons defense, would force and recover another fumble on the Indians next possession. Heading to the fourth, the Indians were clinging to a 21-20 lead.
The Dragons, again cashed in on the turnover as Jones reached the ball over the goal line for a 1-yd TD. The Indians, would claim that he lost the ball before scoring, but the side judge signaled touchdown and that call would stand. Pickens, would go for two, but would not convert. With 8:24 left in the game, the Dragons now led the Indians, 26-21. Later on in the fourth, the Indians were looking to retake the lead.
Faulkner, would find Mason Hester down the sideline for a 59-yd TD. The Indians, would then go for two as a reverse pass to Faulkner connected. With 4:56 left in the game, Lumpkin led Pickens, 29-26. The Dragons were looking to drive down the field for a potential game winning score. The Indians, were able to pick off a pass attempt and give the ball back to their offense.
Faulkner, would be able to convert on 3rd and short to seal the win for the Indians as they took this one, 29-26.
Final 6-AAA Standings:
North Hall: 8-2 (7-0)
Lumpkin: 7-3 (5-2)
Chestatee: 5-5 (4-3)
GAC: 4-6 (4-3)
Pickens: 5-5 (3-4)
Dawson: 4-6 (3-4)
White County: 3-7 (2-5)
Johnson, Gainesville: 0-10 (0-7)
Dragons drop region opener to Lumpkin
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports September 23, 2023
Jasper, Ga — 7-AAA region play began on Friday, September 22nd as the Pickens Dragons took on the Lumpkin County Indians. The Dragons, came into the game with a 1-3 record after a couple of tough games to close out their non-region schedule. The Indians, came into the game undefeated at 4-0 and ranked inside the top 10 in AAA in several polls. While the Dragons had several chances to make something happen, the Indians were able to pick up the win to begin region play, 49-14.
The Indians, won the toss and elected to receive to begin the ball game. The Indians, were able to drive down the field using mainly their run game. Their first drive ended after QB Cal Faulkner tossed a pop pass to Nolan Matthews on a sweep and he took it 18 yards for the touchdown. The PAT was good and with 9:04 left in the first quarter, the Indians led the Dragons, 7-0. The Indians, added to their lead after Mason Sullens scored on a 60-yd touchdown run to make it 14-0. Going to the second quarter, Lumpkin held a 14-0 lead over Pickens.
Dragons on defense in the 1st quarter
Nearly halfway into the second quarter, the Indians added to their lead with a 14-yd touchdown run by Faulkner. With 6:45 left in the first half, the Indians now led, 21-0. Sullens, punched in his 2nd touchdown of the night with a 3-yd run to give Lumpkin a 28-0 lead over Pickens heading into the break.
Sam Streicher dropping back for a pass
The Dragons, got the ball to start the second half. This drive, would be the most successful drive for the Dragons up to this point as QB Sam Streicher found WR McCord Purdy in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yd touchdown. the PAT from Charlie Gibbons was good and with 6:45 left in the third quarter, the Indians led the Dragons, 28-7. The Indians, were able to answer that score as Sullens scored his 3rd rushing touchdown of the game with another 3-yd run. Going to the fourth quarter, Lumpkin led Pickens, 35-7.
Dragons on offense in the second half
The Indians, opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter as Faulkner ran it in from 8-yds out for his 2nd rushing touchdown of the game to make it 42-7 Indians with 9:54 left in the game. Streicher and Purdy, connected for the second time in the game as Streicher found Purdy for a 53-yd touchdown. The PAT by Gibbons was good and with 8:58 left in the game, Lumpkin led Pickens, 42-14. The Indians, found the end zone one last time as Jackson Bell scored after a 2-yd run. The final in Jasper, Lumpkin 49 Pickens 14.
7-AAA Football Standings:
Lumpkin: 5-0 (1-0)
Wesleyan: 3-2 (1-0)
Dawson: 1-4 (1-0)
White Co.: 2-2 (0-0)
Gilmer: 3-2 (0-1)
Pickens: 1-4 (0-1)
West Hall: 1-4 (0-1)
The Dragons, will be on a bye week next week as they will have two weeks to get ready for the Dawson Tigers. That game will be at Dragons Stadium on Friday, October 6th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.