Dragons pick up road win against Rebels
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports September 5, 2026
Blue Ridge, Ga — A 515 battle took place on Friday, September 4th as the Pickens Dragons took on the Fannin County Rebels in non-region action. Both teams, were coming off of losses last week. The Dragons, were looking for their first win of the early season. A back and forth second half saw the Dragons come up with a pair of stops to pick up the win, 45-35.
The Rebels, would win the toss and elect to receive the opening kickoff. A pair of big plays would put the Rebels inside Dragon territory. The Dragons, would end up forcing a four and out and would take over at their 32-yd line. On the first play of the drive, Tanner Bail, would take a shot down field to Donnie Marshall. The pass was incomplete, but a penalty on the Rebels would move the ball up to the Dragon 47-yd line.
After a penalty on the Dragons, Bail, would swing the ball to Sawyer Purdy for a nice gain. Ike Wyngaard, would then take a pitch to the Rebel 33-yd line. Another hand off to Wyngaard would gain 7 yards. The Rebels, would then force a turnover as Isaac Watkins would recover a fumble at their 26-yd line. The Rebels, would turn that into points as Cannon Holloway would find Tristen Bernier for a 20-yd touchdown. With 5:43 left in the first quarter, Fannin led Pickens, 7-0.
The Dragons, would finish off the opening quarter by driving deep inside Rebel territory. Heading to the second quarter, the Rebels led it, 7-0.
On the first play of the second quarter, Bail, would almost connect with Brock Teal for a touchdown, but it would fall incomplete. Toccoa McGraw, would come in and nail a 27-yd field goal to make it 7-3 with 11:48 remaining in the first half. The Rebels, would respond with a 63-yd touchdown run by Holloway. The PAT was good and with 9:33 left in the half, Fannin led Pickens, 14-3. On the ensuing kick off, Wyngaard, would take it all the way to the Rebel 30-yd line.
A penalty on the Dragons, would bring the ball back to the Dragon 25. A nice run by Travis Vines, would give the Dragons a first down. On 3rd and 5 from their 41-yd line, Bail’s pass attempts to Teal was tipped, but Teal would still bring it in and pick up the first down. The Dragons, would cut into the lead after a 14-yd touchdown pass from Bail to Corban Addison. With 4:02 left in the half, The Rebels were leading, 14-10.
The Rebels, would take advantage of the ensuing kickoff going out of bounds and would cross into Dragon territory on the first play of the drive. A long run would then be negated by a holding penalty. After a miscue on a screen attempt, the Rebels were able to get the penalty yardage and some more back on second down. The Dragons, would force a punt by the Rebels. The snap, would go over the punters head and the Dragons would take over deep inside Rebel territory.
After three straight runs by Wyngaard, the Dragons, would bring in their heavy package as Teal would pick up the first down to keep the drive going. That package would stay on the field as Teal would make a few defenders miss as he would run it in from 8-yards out. The PAT was good and with 15 seconds left in the half, Pickens led Fannin, 17-14. The Rebels, would kneel it to end the first half and at the break, the Dragons were up, 17-14.
The Dragons, would start the second half with the football. After picking up a first down after back to back runs from Wyngaard and Vines, the Rebels, would force a punt. Teal, would get off a good punt and the Rebels would take over at their own 17-yard line. A pair of penalties, would derail the first drive of the second half for the Rebels. Or so we thought. The punt would be muffed by the Dragons and the Rebels would recover inside Dragon territory.
On 3rd & 5, Cannon Holloway, would find Reid Holloway for a first down at the Dragon 18 to keep the drive going. The Holloway’s, would connect again on the next play for an 18-yd touchdown. The PAT was good and with 3:59 left in the third, Fannin was back on top, 21-17. On the ensuing kickoff, Purdy, would get a good return out of the squib kick. A facemask penalty, would move the ball up to the Dragon 49 yard line.
On this drive, the Dragons, used the running back tandem of Wyngaard and Vines to great success. Wyngaard, would cap off the drive with a 13-yd touchdown run. A great block by Marshall would help lead Wyngaard in for the score. With 55 seconds left in the third, Pickens led Fannin, 24-21. Just before the end of the third, the Holloway boys would connect again for a long gain down to the Dragon 13-yd line. A 4-yd run by C. Holloway, would send us to the fourth.
A penalty to start the fourth quarter would negate the possible go ahead touchdown for the Rebels. On the next play, the Dragons, would give some yardage back after a facemask penalty. The Rebels, would retake the lead after a 9-yd touchdown run by Bernier. The PAT was good and with 11:41 left to go in the game, Fannin was back on top, 28-24. The ensuing kickoff would be downed at the Dragon 32-yd line.
The Dragons, would respond as Bail would connect with Teal on a TE screen and he would take it 56 yards for the touchdown. The PAT by McGraw was good and with 9:22 left to go in the game, the Dragons were up, 31-28. We were far from over however. The Rebels, would start on their own 10-yd line after a little miscue on the kickoff. After C. Holloway picked up a first down with his legs, he would connect with Bernier on the next play to the Rebel 45-yd line.
C. Holloway, would pick up his second rushing touchdown of the game as he would run it in from 51-yards out. The PAT was good and 6:59 left to go in the game, the Rebels, would reclaim the lead, 35-31. The Dragons, would take over at their own 36-yard line after a pooch kick. Wyngaard, would break a tackle near the line of scrimmage and take it to the house for a 60-yd touchdown. The PAT was good and just like that, the Dragons were back on top, 38-35 with 6:07 to go.
The Dragons, would then force a three and out and the Rebels would be forced to punt. The Dragons, would take over at their own 31-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Wyngaard, would make his third house call of the night after a 69-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 4:54 left to go in the game, the Dragons, extended their lead to 45-35.
On their ensuing possession, the Rebels, were facing a 3rd and long. C. Holloway, would find Nate O’Neal and he would take it to the Dragon 40-yard line. The Rebels, would keep the drive alive again as C. Holloway would find Casen Bailey on the screen pass for a first down. The Dragons, would be able to force a four and out and take over at their own 21-yard line. After three straight runs by the Dragons and the final two timeouts used by the Rebels, Fannin would take over at their own 41-yard line with just over a minute left.
C. Holloway, after scrambling to his left, found an open O’Neal on the sideline and he would get out of bounds at the Dragon 37-yard line. The Dragons, would again force a four and out and take over at their own 45-yard line where Bail would take a knee and the Dragons would come away with a 45-35 win.
The Dragons, having finally gotten in the win column, will look to add to that total next week as they are back home to battle the East Forsyth Broncos on Friday, September 11th. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.
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 open 2025 season with road win
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports August 16, 2025
Lindale, Ga — With pre-season scrimmages over with, it was go time for high school football teams around the state of Georgia this week. Two of those teams, were Pickens and Pepperell in a battle of Dragons. In a closely contested ball game throughout, it was the Pickens Dragons that came out on top, 28-20.
The Pepperell Dragons, would receive the opening kickoff. They would take the opening kickoff nearly 70 yards to the Pickens 30-yd line. Facing a fourth down, Pepperell, would draw Pickens offsides to move the fourth down attempt closer. A QB sneak would give Pepperell the first down. The drive would end with points for Pepperell as they connected on a 4-yd touchdown pass. With 6:37 left in the first quarter, Pepperell led Pickens, 7-0.
Pickens, on their first drive of the game, picked up a nice gain, but was called back due to a penalty. A nice run by Ezra Faber, would set Pickens up with a manageable third down. Pickens QB Hayden Jones, would roll to his left on the next play, and found an open Faber for a 51-yd completion. That play would help set up a 24-yd touchdown run by Ike Wyngaard. Heading to the second quarter, the ball game was tied at 7 a piece.
The second quarter saw both teams stall out offensively as the defenses for both teams and penalties, were main factors in drives ending with no points. The only points of the second quarter came when McCord Purdy booted a 43-yd field goal through the uprights with just over 12 seconds left in the first half to give the Pickens Dragons a 10-7 lead over the Pepperell Dragons heading into halftime.
Pickens, who received the second half kickoff, would turn that first possession into points as Jones would score on a 38-yd touchdown run. With McCord Purdy out due to a cramping issue, Toccoa McGraw would step in to kick the PAT to give Pickens a 17-7 lead. Later on in the quarter, McGraw, would come on to try a 25-yd field goal. She would knock it through to extend the lead out to 20-7 with 6:10 left in the third. Pepperell, would cut into the lead after returning a punt 50-yds for the touchdown. Heading to the fourth, Pickens, led Pepperell 20-14.
Almost midway through the fourth quarter, Jones, found Brock Teal and Teal would leap into the end zone for a 24-yd touchdown. Pickens, would then look to make it a two touchdown game as they would go for two. After a defensive pass interference was called on the first attempt, Pickens, would send in a heavy package as Freshman Cal Morrison, would take the snap and barrel into the end zone for the conversion. With 6:10 left in the game, Pickens led Pepperell, 28-14.
Pepperell, would not go away quietly as they would score points on their next possession after a 3-yd touchdown run by QB Moss Tant, would cut the lead down to a one score game. The ensuing PAT would be no good however meaning that Pickens, was up 28-20 with 2:17 left in the game. After Pickens recovered an onside kick attempt by Pepperell, Faber, would pretty much seal the win for Pickens after a long run.
Pickens, would then drain the remaining time off the clock as they would come away with a 28-20 road win to open the season.
The Pickens Dragons, will be back in action next Friday night as they will host the Sonoraville Phoenix for the home opener. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.