WIN

from B1

“I knew they would come out and give us a little fight at the beginning, but if we got up early I knew that they would struggle. I just wanted our guys to come out with some intensity and fire, and for the most part they did.”

Ross pulled down an interception early in the second quarter, the first of three picks for Pepperell.

The offense got back to work with Hammond picking up a 45-yard run before heading into the end zone from 8 yards out for his first touchdown.

Kicker Ramiro Alanis made the extra point to give the Dragons the 14-0 lead.

The sophomore would finish a perfect 7-of-7 on the night.

Dade County (2-6, 1-4) found momentum long enough to mount a 79yard touchdown drive, kicked off by a 57-yard run from fullback Lee Spencer, but Pepperell’s defense shut down the Wolverines the rest of the night.

The Dragons’ offense, meanwhile, kept rolling, scoring on its next five possessions, four of which were capped off by Hammond on three 1-yard runs and one 12-yard scamper.

“Our offensive line did a great job blocking for him, as did our guys out on the perimeter,” Hurst said, referring to receivers TJ Watkins and Connor Chandler. “Hats off to Tae. That’s a huge accomplishment for him. It just shows how hard he works week in week out.”

Pepperell’s final touchdown began when Hammond burst through the middle of the line near the Dragons’ Jeremy Stewart / RN-T

Pepperell’s TJ Watkins is wrapped up by a Dade County player after making a catch during Friday’s game in Lindale.

40-yard line and coughed up the ball, which was caught in midair by teammate Cameron Miles and ran down the right sideline into the end zone.

The running clock for the remainder of the game limited Dade’s opportunities, and Pepperell’s Branson Hank intercepted a Wolverine pass in the end zone with less than two minutes left in the game to seal the win.

Pepperell will be on the road next week as the Dragons head to Armuchee.