It was the Dragons’ night when they rolled into Ellijay to face the hometown Gilmer Bobcats.
The annual football rivalry was renewed last Friday at Huff-Mosley Memorial Stadium, and Pickens struck for quick touchdowns all night. A PHS defensive score added to the Cats’ woes, and they trailed by 14 at the half.
Points and punts were traded evenly in the second half, and Pickens snapped the Bobcats’ two-game winning streak, 38-24.
“I’m proud of our effort and how our kids played,” said head coach Paul Standard. “We didn’t play very smart at times, and that’s on me, and we have to get that fixed. In critical games, much more critical than the one we just played — meaning region games — we can’t make those mistakes.
“We played two games without any personal foul penalties, and then we had three in critical situations. We can’t do that, and good teams don’t do that when trying to beat a good team. I know we have a good football team, but we didn’t play like that at times in terms of our mental approach.”
The game was chippy throughout, and it appeared some of the actions on the field escaped the view of referees. Pickens committed a personal foul in addition to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Gilmer forced Pickens to punt on its opening drive, but that proved to be the exception. Over the Dragons’ remaining four touchdown drives of the game, they needed just 12 plays to reach the end zone.
The Bobcats’ plan of keeping the ball away from Pickens worked, though blown defensive assignments negated time GHS was able to take off the clock.
Gilmer had its rushing attack in gear once again for 379 yards. Fullback Madden Hopkins led the way with 99 on 19 carries, and quarterback A.J. Callihan added 81 on 15 attempts. Peyton Chancey, who was injured in the first quarter a week prior, was medically cleared and ran for 79 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.
“I felt like we had some great individual efforts,” said Standard. “A.J. Callihan again improved dramatically as a brand-new quarterback in this offense. He has shown future opponents that not only can he read the option offense, but he’s willing to pull it when it’s needed and can run it. And he can throw the football. I felt like that was a huge step forward for him, and he’ll continue to improve like that, things are very bright for him and our team.
“I’m proud of both of our fullbacks, especially Peyton Chancey. Coming off a knee injury from a week ago and not being sure if he’s going to play, he showed a lot of guts, determination and courage. The doctors cleared him to play, and he did a great job. Madden had another good night running the football. Our offensive line, at times, did a good job.”
Senior wingbacks Cheyne Smith and Hunter Britain both had nine rushes for 61 and 41 yards, respectively, and the former scored a touchdown.
The Cats’ first drive lasted 7:30, and Gilmer earned four first downs. Hopkins handled seven of the 12 rushes, but he was stopped on fourth down and 1 at Pickens’ 27-yard line.
On the ensuing play, PHS running back Ike Wyngaard shot down the right sideline for a 73-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.
Gilmer’s second drive spanned 80 yards and drained 8:34 off the clock. GHS continued to concentrate its efforts with Hopkins, while Smith, Britain and Callihan gained yards off the edge. After advancing to Pickens’ 10, GHS was flagged for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Facing third down and goal from the 19, Smith hit the left side on a counter play. He was untouched until the 1-yard line where he ran through Dragon Landon Poole for a touchdown.
Carter Gearhart’s first of three extra points evened the score at 7-7 with 6:18 left in the half.
PHS needed one down again, and it was the same play to Wyngaard. He made his way around the right edge untouched for a 76-yard touchdown run.
On the second play of Gilmer’s drive, Dragon Ezra Faber stripped the ball from Smith and returned it for a 20-yard touchdown.
The score put GHS down 21-7 with 5:06 before the break. Gilmer took over at its 33 where Britain rushed three straight times for 25 yards. Chancey then rumbled twice for 13 more, and a PHS face mask pushed the ball to its 14. Three plays later, Chancey scored from 4 yards out on the drive’s eighth play.
With its lead cut back to seven, PHS received the ball with 2:06 left in the half. Pickens did most of its damage through the air, which included a short dump off for 34 yards. The 82-yard, six-play series ended with Faber’s 8-yard touchdown run.
Gilmer received the second half kickoff behind, 28-14. Starting from their 30, Hopkins, Britain and Callihan moved GHS into Pickens territory. Callihan then completed a 17-yard pass to Britain for a first down to Pickens’ 20. GHS faced fourth down and 5, and Gearhart’s 32-yard field goal cut the Dragons’ lead to 11.
PHS put together an 8-play drive that began at its 35. The Dragons continued to mix the run and pass for first downs and settled for a 40-yard field goal for a 31-17 edge with 2:51 to play in the third.
Callihan’s 16-yard keeper on the second play moved GHS near midfield on its next drive. However, a 15-yard chop block penalty stalled the possession and Gilmer punted to start the fourth quarter.
Pickens needed five plays on its final touchdown drive from the 50. Douglas Callihan did slow the series with a 3-yard tackle for a loss, but PHS hit pay dirt three plays later. Wyngaard’s third rushing touchdown of the night was for 33 yards.
The Cats were losing 38-17 with 10:02 left in the game. A.J. Callihan rushed twice for 24 yards, and along with Hopkins and Britain, they motored GHS on the ground. Chancey took the ball up the middle from the 27, stiff-armed defensive back Sawyer Purdy at the 12 and bullied his way to the end zone.
With a 14-point lead and 6:44 to play, PHS kept the ball on the ground and the teams traded personal fouls on separate plays. GHS forced a punt, and the Cats picked up 20 yards on their last possession before A.J. Callihan was intercepted in the end zone.
“Defensively, even though they scored 38 points, we had some great individual efforts,” Standard said. “Cheyne Smith played well on both sides of the ball. Our defensive line, at times, played well. But we had some critical errors in alignment and assignment. Just a couple, but they led to big plays. That’s something we have to get fixed, and we will.
“I know our seniors will get us back on track. I know our kids will bounce back.”
Gilmer is off Friday, and players did not practice Monday. They will also receive Friday off ahead of next week’s regular week of preparations.
“You want your players to keep wanting to play football in late November. I don’t want them burned out,” Standard said. “Sometimes we as coaches can do that. There’s only so much their bodies can take, and we’re going to give them a few days off. We’ll get a chance to work a lot with our JV team, which I’m looking forward to.”
GHS hosts Westminster (2-1) next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
JV falls to Lumpkin Co.
The junior varsity Bobcats hosted Lumpkin County last Thursday, and GHS struggled on both sides of the ball. LCHS scored two touchdowns in each half and the Cats were not as fortunate in a 28-0 loss.
Lumpkin possessed more size and speed than Gilmer, and the Indians scored on their opening drive. They used three plays to cover 61 yards for a 7-0 lead.
GHS responded with a 14-play drive, but it stalled at Lumpkin’s 24. The Cats’ remaining two drives of the half ended with punts.
LCHS punted on its second possession as well, and its third concluded in the end zone with a seven-play, 55-yard possession.
Gilmer’s offense fumbled on consecutive series to begin the second half, and LCHS turned them into 14 points.
The Indians took a 21-0 lead with a six-play, 52-yard drive.
Their ensuing possession needed three plays to cover 26 yards. GHS turned the ball over on downs and punted before its last drive melted the remaining 5:08 off the clock.