Dragons wrap up non-region schedule

PHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Adairsville, Ga — The Pickens Dragons, were on the road on Friday, September 18th as they took on the Adairsville Tigers in the final tune up before region play begins in two weeks. Both the Dragons and the Tigers were coming off losses last week and were looking to get back on track. The Tigers, using back to back third quarter scores, would take this one, 35-14.

 

The Tigers, would get the ball first to start the game. Facing a fourth down near midfield, the Tigers, would convert on a fake punt to keep the drive going. The Tigers, would put points on the board as Javion Carson would run it in from a yard out. With 7:16 left in the first quarter, Adairsville led Pickens, 7-0. The Dragons, would start off their first possession of the night with a swing pass from Tanner Bail to Sawyer Purdy. Purdy, would pick up a chunk of yards for a first down.

After a nice run by Ike Wyngaard, the drive would stall after a penalty. On the next possession for the Tigers, they would extend their lead after a 6-yd touchdown run by Carson. Heading to the second quarter, the Tigers led the Dragons, 14-0.

 

Most of the second quarter would go by without any scoring until Tigers QB Braxton Elrod would power in for a 2-yd touchdown run with 1:46 left in the first half. The Dragons, would finally get on the board as they would take advantage of an onside kick attempt that didn’t go the necessary 10 yards. Bail, would connect with a wide open Wyngaard for a 38-yd touchdown. The PAT by Tocca McGraw was good and with 46 seconds left in the half, Adairsville led it, 21-7.

The Dragons defense, would then make a play as Travis Vines would pick off Elrod’s pass attempt to set up the Dragons with good field position. A strike from Bail to Brock Teal would set the Dragons up with a first down with 12 seconds left in the half. On the next play, Bail’s pass attempt was tipped at the line and would be picked off. The Tigers, would take a knee and take a 21-7 lead into the half.

 

The Dragons, would get the ball first to start the second half. Using a good blend of the run and pass game, the Dragons, would cut the lead in half as Bail would find Purdy for the sliding grab in the end zone to make it 21-14 with 10:28 left in the third. The Tigers, would respond quickly with their first possession of the second half as Carson would find a crease and go 54-yards for the touchdown. With 9:03 left in the third, Adairsville led Pickens, 28-14.

Later on in the third, the Tigers, would extend their lead with a 13-yd touchdown run to make it 35-14. Neither team would be able to find the end zone for the rest of the game as the final score from Adairsville would be 35-14 in favor of the Tigers.

 

6-AAAA Standings ahead of region play:

White County: 4-1

Gilmer: 3-1 (play Wesleyan next week)

North Hall: 2-2 (play East Hall next week)

Pickens: 1-4

Dawson: 0-5

Chestatee: 0-5

 

The Dragons, will go into the bye week looking to correct some things as they prepare for region play. The Dragons, will be back in action on Friday, October 2nd as they take on the Chestatee War Eagles. Kick off is set for 7:30 pm.

Dragons pick up road win against Rebels

PHS Football, Team FYN Sports

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 fall in high scoring season opener

PHS Football, Team FYN Sports

Kennesaw, Ga — No more scrimmages as it was time to kick off the 2026 regular season for high school football for many teams across the state of Georgia on Friday, August 21st. Two of those teams being the Pickens Dragons, and the hosting North Cobb Christian Eagles. This one had a lot packed into it. It was a tale of two halves in this one as the Dragons would go up 28-7 into the break with the Eagles coming back to pick up a 42-35 win.

The Dragons, would win the toss and elect to receive the opening kick. After a great return by Sawyer Purdy that set up the offense at the Dragon 40-yd line, Pickens used a mix of the run game and the quick passing game to drain more than half of the first quarter clock. The Dragons, would cap off the opening drive with a 9-yd touchdown run by Ike Wyngaard. The PAT by Toccoa McGraw was good and with 4:48 left in the quarter, Pickens led it, 7-0.

The Eagles, were looking to tie things up on their opening possession as a big pass play set them up at the Dragon 5-yd line. After a false start by the Eagles, the Dragons would force a stop to bring up 2nd down. The Dragons defense, would then land a big blindside hit on the Eagles QB that jarred the ball loose. The ball would go out of bounds at the Dragon 38-yd line to bring up 3rd down.

The Dragons, would force a punt after a pass break up by Donald Marshall. Heading to the second quarter, the Dragons led the Eagles, 7-0.

Just under a minute into the second quarter, Tanner Bail found Wyngaard streaking down the seam for a 59-yd touchdown pass. The PAT was good and with 11:05 left in the first half, Pickens led North Cobb Christian, 14-0. On the next Eagles possession, Jackson Walker, would force and recover a fumble after a big hit on a receiver. There was discussion from the officials because Walker’s helmet came off right after the ball was knocked loose. In the end, the officials ruled that it was Dragons ball.

On the first play after the fumble recovery, Purdy, took the end around and turned on the jets for a 44-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 10:01 left in the first half, the Dragons led the Eagles, 21-0. After another defensive stop, the Dragons, would add to their lead as newcomer Travis Vines would power his way in for a 1-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 4:36 left to go in the half, Pickens led North Cobb Christian, 28-0.

The Eagles, would respond with their first scoring drive of the game as they would cap it off with an 18-yd touchdown pass. The PAT was good and with 1:16 left in the half, the Dragons led the Eagles, 28-7. After a late defensive stop by the Eagles, North Cobb Christian had a little time left to add points before halftime. A nice pass play would set up a 40-yd field goal try. The ball would sail left and the Dragons would take a 28-7 lead into the break.

On the first play of scrimmage in the third quarter, the Eagles would connect on a 64-yd touchdown pass. The PAT was good and with 11:43 left in the third, Pickens led North Cobb Christian, 28-14. The Eagles, would then force and recover a fumble on the Dragons opening possession of the second half. They would convert that into points after a 38-yd touchdown pass. The PAT was good and with 10:21 left to go in the third, the Dragons lead was cut to 28-21.

After a back and forth, the Eagles, would again score after a 1-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 1:48 left in the third, the game was tied at 28. A stop by the Eagles defense before the end of the third, would give their offense the ball as they would head to the fourth.

The Eagles, would use that momentum from the third quarter and carry it over to the fourth as they would take their first lead of the game after a 7-yd touchdown pass. The PAT was good and with 9:05 left in the game, North Cobb Christian led Pickens, 35-28. The Dragons, needing something to help stop the bleeding, found it as Bail would connect with Brock Teal for a 51-yd touchdown pass. The PAT was good and we were tied at 35 with 6:18 left in the game.

The Eagles, would respond with a 2-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and with 2:39 left in the game, North Cobb Christian led Pickens, 42-35. The Dragons, looking for one final drive to tie or possibly win the game, would pick up one first down, but the Eagles would force a turnover on downs as North Cobb Christian would pick up the win, 42-35.

The Dragons, will look to rebound as they will be home next week as they host former region foe, the Lumpkin Indians, on Friday, August 28th for the home opener. Lumpkin, will be coming off of a 42-31 win over Dawson to start the season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.

Back to Top