Tough first quarter dooms LaFayette against Pickens

The visiting Pickens Dragons stayed in the running for a possible share of the Region 6-4A title with a 48-6 win at LaFayette on Friday night.

Pickens (5-4, 4-1) scored four touchdowns in the first quarter as they built a 27-0 lead. Chris Pittman, Dylan Huffman and C.J. Streicher had short TD runs, while quarterback Jacob Brumby connected with Josh Cain on an 8-yard TD pass.

The Ramblers (2-7, 0-5) would get their only points at the 9:07 mark of the second quarter as Logan Teasley hit KaDarrin Ramsey on a 15-yard scoring pass. However, Brumby would score on a 1-yard sneak with 2:34 left in the half to give the Dragons a 34-6 lead at intermission.

An Alex Pittman interception would help set up a 3-yard TD run by Brumby in the third quarter and Streicher would add a 4-yard touchdown run in the fourth to cap the scoring.

Pickens finished with 451 yards of offense, 322 coming on the ground. Brumby was 10 of 17 in the air for 122 yards and rushed eight times for 63 yards, while accounting for three

total touchdowns.

LaFayette had 146 total yards on offense, 113 coming on the ground. Colton Lane had a team-high 16 carries for a team-high 44 yards, while Alan Hu picked up 36 yards on just four carries. Teasley was 2 of 6 for 33 yards with both completions being hauled in by Ramsey.

Ramsey, Tyler Beard and Jonah Hobbs had 7.5 tackles each, while Ramsey also recovered a fumble that was forced by Teasley.

The Ramblers hurt themselves with two interceptions and two fumbles, including one at its own 1-yard line that led to Pickens’ second score.

Pickens will host Heritage in a game with huge region implications this Friday, while LaFayette will try to close out the regular season with a win in Ellijay against winless Gilmer.