AdvertiseHereH

Blue Flame season ends against ‘Cats

By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports

ejolley@thepccourier.com

SENECA — For the second straight season, Pickens had a region rematch in the first round of the state 3A playoffs.

And on Friday night, playing as an at-large team at region champion and undefeated Seneca, [cointent_lockedcontent]the Blue Flame were eventually worn down by the Bobcats in a 42-0 loss.

Tommy McGaha/Courier Pickens’ Sam Lawson jumps to grab a pass during Friday night’s game at Seneca.

Tommy McGaha/Courier
Pickens’ Sam Lawson jumps to grab a pass during Friday night’s game at Seneca.

Last season, Pickens lost in the first round at region champion Wren.

Friday night, the Blue Flame held Seneca (11-0) scoreless in the first quarter, picking off two passes. But Seneca converted on six of nine third-down conversions in the first half and took a 21-0 lead into halftime.

“That’s playing really good football right there,” Pickens coach John Boggs said of the third-down conversions. “Not being able to get off the field was obviously the difference.”

Seneca got the ball first, but Robert Jones picked off an Elijah Turner pass. Three plays later, the Blue Flame fumbled it back — the only Pickens turnover in the game.

The Bobcats couldn’t convert on fourth down, as a pass to the end zone was dropped.

Pickens (4-7) then had its best scoring opportunity of the game. Gunner Covey had a 19-yard reception and a nine-yard run followed by a late-hit penalty that had the Blue Flame in business. After reaching the 15, the drive stalled and Matt Gravely tried a 33-yard field goal, but it was blocked by a diving Devin Kendrick with 3:47 left in the first quarter.

Seneca punted on the next possession but did get on the board early in the second quarter. Turner found Andre Wright for a 35-yard scoring strike over the middle with 10:53 left in the half. Hunter Pearson’s kick made it 7-0.

Seneca looked to add more, but Turner’s pass was picked off by Gravely at the Blue Flame 5.

Following a short punt, Seneca did get going again as Turner hit Wright with a quick pass and he took it 30 yards for the score with 4:15 left in the half, making it 14-0.

Seneca began to pull away, scoring with 20 seconds left in the half. Jacory Benson took a draw play the final 15 yards, making it 21-0.

The Bobcat defense held Pickens to just one first down in the final half, and Seneca scored touchdowns on its first three possessions. Braxton Gambrell capped off a drive with a two-yard touchdown run with 7:12 left in the third quarter. Then he had an electrifying 41-yard scoring run, stuttering in the backfield before kicking it into high gear around the right side with 1:49 left in the third quarter.

The final score came when Turner hit Chris Latimer, again with a little quick pass. Latimer scampered and then made one defender miss for a 27-yard score with 7:58 left.

Seneca reached the Pickens 20 before taking a knee on the final three plays of the game.

“We played tough, but we couldn’t generate anything offensively,” said Boggs, in the first season as head coach of his alma mater. “It was real frustrating. We got a few things going early and we couldn’t capitalize with the blocked field goal. If we get points on the board there, it might could have been a little different.

“They’re so deep and talented. We had a few guys banged up and a few guys stretched thin. We had several guys play a bunch of snaps —Renny Coley, Gunner Covey, Tyler Gravely. They may have played about every snap on the field tonight except for a few kickoffs. My hat’s off to Seneca — they are a really good football team. They’re really talented and they’ll go deep in the playoffs and have a chance to win it all. It was a little disappointing to come out tonight like this. We were hoping for a better showing than this.”

Seneca ran 71 plays to only 45 for Pickens. The Bobcats had 635 yards of total offense and held Pickens to 114.

Seneca will host Chapman Friday in the second round of the playoffs.

[/cointent_lockedcontent]