Pickens wins the battle of the Dragons to open season
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports August 18, 2024
Jasper, Ga — In one of the more interesting starts to a football season I’ve ever seen, the Pickens Dragons began playing the Pepperell Dragons on Friday, August 16th, and finished the game on Saturday, August 17th. Mother nature, was not kind to this game, and others on Friday. That forced many games to be postponed and moved to Saturday. Pickens, overcame being down 14 early to come back and picked up a dramatic 31-28 win.
On Friday, in the first quarter, Pepperell got the ball first to start the game. The Pepperell Dragons, got on the board early with an 86-yd touchdown run by QB Sam Ross. The PAT was good and with 11:37 left in the first quarter, Pepperell took a 7-0 lead. Pickens, would then have trouble with an exchange on their first possession which allowed Pepperell to recover the fumble. Ross, would end up scoring on a 6-yd run and with 8:53 left in the first quarter, the Pepperell Dragons were up 14-0 on the Pickens Dragons.
Then the storms came. After waiting out the weather for a while, the decision was made to pause the game. The game was moved to Saturday, with a restart time of 6 pm. Late Saturday afternoon came around and mother nature decided to pop back up again. The two teams and fans all waited it out, and at 7:30, the teams were finally out on the field to warm up. At 7:45, the ball game resumed with Pickens punting to Pepperell.
On their next drive after the restart, Pepperell would pick up a first down, but that would be it. The Pickens Dragons, would cut the Pepperell lead in half as QB Hayden Jones found an open Landon Poole, who took it all the way for the 52-yd TD. The PAT from McCord Purdy was good. Heading to the second quarter, Pepperell led Pickens, 14-7.
In the second quarter, the Pickens Dragons would yet again cut into the lead of the Pepperell Dragons with help from pressure by the defense, and some snap issues by Pepperell. A high snap in the end zone on a punt attempt by Pepperell would lead to a safety for Pickens. With 11:10 left in the first half, Pepperell led Pickens, 14-9.
Dragons defense with a gang tackle on the Pepperell QB
Later on in the second, Ross would find a receiver and he would score a 48-yd TD to extend the lead for Pepperell to 21-9 with 1:55 left in the first half. Not to be outdone, Jones found McCord Purdy streaking down the sidelines and Purdy made the grab for the touchdown as he was being held. The PAT by Purdy was good and heading into the half, Pepperell led Pickens, 21-16.
Hayden Jones handing off to Landon Poole
For the majority of the third quarter, both teams went back and forth with no scoring. Pickens, would find the end zone after Jones got in with a 1-yd run. Pickens, would then go for two to push their lead up to three. The two point try was successful as Jones found Purdy to make it 24-21 Pickens with 2:29 left in the third. LB Hunter Bryant would recover a Pepperell fumble to set up Pickens with excellent field position.
RB Hagen Mullins, would then convert that turnover into points as he got in with a 7-yd run. The PAT was good and just like that, Pickens led Pepperell, 31-21 with 1:39 left in the third. Heading to the fourth, Pickens was in front of Pepperell, 31-21.
Hayden Jones looking for a receiver to throw to
In the fourth, Pepperell would cut into the Pickens lead as Ross went into scramble mode and scored on an 18-yd run. His 3rd of the game. The Pat was good and with 4:25 left in the game, Pickens now led Pepperell, 31-28. Pickens, on what would be their final drive of the night, looked to run out the clock and faced a 4th and short just past midfield. New Pickens head coach Craig Bennett and the offense decided to go for it to try and put the game on ice.
Jones, would find a hole to pick up the first down and then some. However, a holding penalty on Pickens would wipe out the would be first down, and were forced the Dragons to punt. Jones’ punt would be downed inside the 15-yd line with 59 seconds left. Pepperell, would make their way near midfield with two seconds left. Pepperell, would look for one final desperation play.
After a couple passes and fumbles, Pepperell found an open man and what looked like a free run to the end zone. However, Isaiah Lacy would trip the runner up at the 20-yd line to preserve the 31-28 win for the Pickens Dragons.
The Dragons, the Pickens Dragons that is, will be on the road next week as they take on the Sonoraville Phoenix on Friday, August 23rd. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.
We talked to new Dragons head coach Craig Bennett after the ball game ended. You can catch that in the video below: