Gordon Central falls victim to Pepperell, COVID-19
The Gordon Central Warriors, down at least 12 players because of positive COVID-19 cases and related teammate quarantines, hosted a 50-14 blowout by the Pepperell Dragons in a Monday game that was pushed back because of the virus.
The pandemic’s impact on the Warriors was noticeable from the very first drive, with a young and inexperienced team committing a 15-yard penalty on the first snap of the game and then nearly losing the ball on two separate fumbled snaps. Ultimately the Warriors would punt from their own end zone, only for the kick to be block and recovered by Pepperell’s Trey Forcier for the touchdown. The extra point set up an early 7-0 lead for the Dragons.
Two possessions later Pepperell extended their lead while converting a fourth-and-17 try into a 36-yard touchdown pass when Matthew Waddell hit Jon Shields across the middle for about 12 yards, and then Shields powered his way down the field for a touchdown. A converted extra point made it 14-0.
Gordon Central went three-and-out on their next possession, and then an errant pass on an attempted fake punt on fourth and nine gave Pepperell the ball back on the Warrior 27. One play later Dragon running back D.J. Rogers broke free for a long touchdown run, and the XP set the score at 21-0.
Gordon Central’s next punt attempt saw a wild snap give Pepperell the ball on the Warrior 10 yard line. Rogers then scored again on a 10-yard run, and the Dragons added two on the conversion for a 29-0 lead as the first quarter ended. Two possessions later Shields scored again on a 35-yard touchdown, and the extra point made it 36-0.
The Warriors converted their first first down with about 9:30 left in the second quarter, but two runs for no gain and an incomplete pass led to a punt.
The Dragons started the following drive on their own 46,
the first time the ball had been on their side of the field thus far, and Gordon Central’s Sean Gray picked off a Pepperell pass on their second play before running the length of the field for a pick six. The extra point made the score 36-7.
The Warriors then attempted an onside kick, which Pepperell recovered. Two plays later Dragon RB Rogers broke off a 40-yard touchdown run. The extra point would set the score for the first half at 43-7.
Pepperell swapped in their younger players for the second half of the game, and both teams tacked on a touchdown and extra point each. Additionally, Gordon Central
had two separate touchdowns called back due to penalty.
The Dragons scored first in the second half, when Demarcus Ragland broke off a touchdown run.
Then the Warriors converted a fourth-and-21 attempt, with Gray scoring a 36- yard touchdown. The
final score was 50-14.
Gordon Central (1-5, 0-2) will host Coosa on Friday before traveling to Chattooga on Tuesday.
Pepperell (3-4, 2-1) is off next week and will travel to Model on Nov. 6.