Dragons defeat Warriors to keep playoff hopes alive
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports October 28, 2023
Cleveland, Ga — It was a beautiful night for football on Friday, October, 27th as the Pickens Dragons made their way up to Cleveland to take on the White County Warriors. Coming into the game, the Dragons looked to build off of a nice win over West Hall at home last week. The Warriors, looked to bounce back after a high scoring, 4 overtime affair with Lumpkin. In an action packed, intense, back and forth game, the Dragons came away with the 39-37 win to keep their playoff chances alive.
The Dragons, got the ball first to start the ball game and moved down the field pretty effectively. As the drive looked like it was possibly about to stall, QB Sam Streicher tossed the ball to Landon Poole on a screen play and Poole took it 32 yards for the touchdown. The PAT was blocked and with 8:40 left in the first quarter, Pickens led White County, 6-0. The Warriors, would answer nearly two minutes later as QB Tripp Nix took it in from 15-yds out. The PAT would be good and with 6:41 left in the first quarter, the Warriors led the Dragons, 7-6.
The Warrior defense, then created a turnover on the Dragons next possession as a pass was tipped and intercepted. The Warriors, would cash in on the turnover and score a 1-yd touchdown. The PAT would be blocked and with 5:26 left in the first quarter, White County led Pickens, 13-6. The Dragons, turned to the run game with their next possession as RB Miguel Salto took the handoff and ran 66-yds for the touchdown. The PAT from Charlie Gibbons was good and as they headed to the second quarter, the game would be tied at 13.
Streicher looking down field to throw
The Dragons, began the second quarter by capping off a drive that started towards the end of the first quarter as Streicher found WR McCord Purdy for an 8-yd touchdown. The PAT was good and with 10:39 left in the first half, Pickens led White County, 20-13. The Dragons, then caught the Warriors by surprise as Gibbons executed a picture perfect onside kick that landed right into Poole’s arms. The defense for White County, was able to get a stop and their offense responded with a drive that led to a 9-yd touchdown run by Nix. The PAT was no good and with 3:52 left in the first half, the Dragons led the Warriors, 20-19.
Just before the end of the half, Streicher connected with Purdy again from 8-yds out for the score. The PAT was good and Pickens went into the break leading White County, 27-19.
Dragons looking to stop a running play
The Warriors, got the ball first in the second half looking to cut into the Dragons lead or possibly tie it. RB Ryan Fowler, capped off the drive with a 4-yd touchdown. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good and with 8:23 left in the third quarter, the Dragons led the Warriors, 27-25. Later on in the quarter, Streicher found Purdy for the 3rd time as Purdy got in from 7-yds out. The PAT was no good. Going to the fourth quarter, Pickens led White County, 33-25.
Dragons set to run a play inside the 10-yd line
Almost three minutes into the fourth quarter, the Warriors scored after the third rushing touchdown from Nix. This one from 5-yds out. White County, tried going for two, but the pass was batted down. With 9:02 left in the game, Pickens held on to a 33-31. The next drive for the Dragons saw WR Hayden Jones come up with some massive catches including a one handed catch.
That incredible catch help set up a 2-yd touchdown run by Streicher. The PAT was no good and with 6:40 left in the game, Pickens led White County, 39-31. The Warriors, once again found the end zone as their guy, Nix, ran it in from 6-yds out for his fourth rushing score of the game. The ensuing 2-point conversion attempt was almost complete, but the ball fell out of the receivers hands as he went to the ground. The Dragons, held onto a 39-37 lead with 3:40 left in the game. The Dragons offense, behind Streicher making a couple of clutch throws to Jones and getting some tough yards with his legs, was able to run out the remaining time and pick up a massive road win, 39-37.
7-AAA Football Standings:
Lumpkin: 9-0 (5-0) Region Champions
Wesleyan: 5-3 (4-1) #2 seed (regardless of outcomes next week)
Gilmer: 6-3 (3-2)
Pickens: 3-6 (2-3)
White County: 4-5 (2-3)
Dawson County: 2-8 (2-4)
West Hall: 1-8 (0-5)
The Dragons, will once again be on the road to finish out the 2023 regular season as they head to Wesleyan to take on the Wolves on Friday, November, 3rd. There will be some scoreboard watching going on that night. A win by the Dragons, plus a win by their friends to the north, Gilmer (play at White County), will put the Dragons into the playoffs. Kick off against Wesleyan is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons drop non-region game to Warriors
PHS Football, Team FYN Sports September 4, 2021
Jasper, Ga — A lot of things were going on in Pickens County on Friday September 3rd, 2021. It was the start of a festival known as JeepFest, local country music recording artist Jacob Bryant played a show for his hometown crowd on main street, and the Pickens Dragons welcomed the White County Warriors to Dragons Stadium for a non-region contest. These two teams have gone back and forth the last couple of years, but the Warriors have taken the last two meetings. Pickens, came into the game looking to build off of an impressive win against Commerce. White County, came in looking to right the ship after two tough early season games.
The Warriors were the first to receive to start the ball game. After driving down the field a bit, White County’s opening drive was stalled by a holding penalty, and a sack by the Dragons defense. Offensively, Pickens didn’t waste any time attempting a home run shot. After receiving the snap, QB Sam Streicher handed off to RB Kadyn Hampton, who then tossed it to Collin Kellogg. Kellogg, launched it down field to Devin Hand who nearly made an incredible diving catch to reel the pass in. The Dragons, would end up having to punt the ball away on that first drive. White County, got the ball back, and was able to keep this drive alive after a successful fake punt. That play ended with a targeting call on the Dragons to give the Warriors even better field position. The next play, the Warriors got in on a 9-yd touchdown run. The 2-point conversion attempt was no good, and we’d head to the second quarter with White County leading the Dragons, 6-0.
Dragons on offense in the 1st quarter
In the second quarter, both teams started to settle in defensively. The lone score of the second quarter came at the 9:37 mark as the Warriors found the end zone after a 44-yd touchdown pass off of a screen play. The PAT attempt was good and White County extended their lead over Pickens to 13-0. The Dragons, certainly had their chances offensively in the first half, but it was one of those times were every shot was just miss. Going into the half, the Warriors held a 13-0 advantage.
Dragons on defense in the 2nd quarter
In the third quarter, the Dragons were looking for a way to get back into the ball game. At the 4:38 mark of the third, Pickens did just that as Streicher got in after a 5-yd touchdown run. The PAT was good and the White County lead was cut to 13-7. That score held up for the rest of the quarter and we’d head to the fourth, Warriors leading, 13-7.
Streicher capped off the drive with a touchdown
Midway through the fourth quarter, The Warriors went for it on 4th down from the 1-yd line. The ball carrier, leaped over the pile and just narrowly crossed the plain for the touchdown. With 5:50 left in the game, White County extended their lead to 20-7. The Dragons had opportunities, but it just wasn’t meant to be as the Warriors took this one, 20-7.
The Dragons, will now look to regroup as they will prepare for their first road game of the season next Friday in Rome against the Coosa Eagles. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.
Dragons fall to Warriors in non region action
PHS Football, Sports, Team FYN Sports September 19, 2020
Cleveland Ga — Last night, the Pickens Dragons (1-2) traveled up to Cleveland Georgia to take on the White County Warriors (3-0) in non region action. These two teams have become very familiar with each other over the last several seasons meeting twice in 2018, once in 2019, and again in 2020. All together, this was the 46th all time meeting between the two schools. It was senior night for White County as they would continue their impressive start to the season defeating the Dragons 42-7.
The Dragons kept up their streak of winning the opening coin toss to start the season as they elected to get the ball first. Their opening possession for the Dragons was a short one as the Warriors were able to recover a fumble. White County cashed in on the turnover with a touchdown run to make it 7-0. The Warriors added to their lead with an 6-yd touchdown run to make it 14-o with 6:37 left in the first quarter. With 2:29 left in the first quarter, White County got into the end zone with an 8-yd touchdown run to make it 21-0 Warriors over the Dragons.
Sam Streicher looking for a receiver
The first quarter ended as the Warriors were driving. twelve seconds into the second quarter, White County struck again with a 65-yd touchdown pass to make it 28-0 with 11:48 left in the first half. That would be the only score in the second quarter as we headed into halftime with the Warriors ahead of the Dragons, 28-0.
Dragons looking to defend a pass play
The third quarter saw the Warriors add to their lead with a 2-yd touchdown run to make it 35-0 with 8:03 left. With fifty-three seconds left in the third, White County scored on a second 2-yd touchdown run to make it 42-0 going to the fourth and final quarter.
Pickens looking to get into the end zone
The fourth quarter saw the Dragons come up with their best drive of the night. Some highlights of the drive included a great catch by Mykel Hand and a 1-yd touchdown run by Jarod Whitmore just before time expired. Final from Cleveland, 42-7.
7-AAAA Standings:
Heritage: 3-0
Northwest Whitfield: 3-0
Pickens: 1-2
Central-Carroll: 0-1
Cedartown: 0-2
Ridgeland: 0-3
Next week, the Dragons will be back home as they welcome the Coosa Eagles to Dragon Stadium. The Eagles, are 2-0 on the season after wins over Trion and Lookout Valley (TN). They are out of region 7 in AA. Kickoff is set for 7:30 pm.