Staff writer
Peabody-Burns High School football season ended Nov. 2 at Osborne. The Warriors were defeated by the Bulldogs, 52-6, in a bi-district playoff game. PBHS finished the season with six wins and four losses.
Osborne began their first drive at their own 15-yard line after the Warriors kickoff went into the Bulldog end zone. Osborne moved the yard markers twice early in the drive. On second-and-8 from the Warriors 37, Osborne ran for the first score of the ball game. The conversion run was successful, and PBHS trailed the Bulldogs, 8-0, just seconds into the contest.
Storm Pickens fielded the Bulldog kickoff and the Warriors had the ball at their own 21-yard line. The series included a run by Hunter Pickens, a rush by Storm Pickens, and an incomplete pass. Derek Price punted the ball on fourth-and-9 at the Warriors 19.
Defensive plays by Hunter Pickens, Spencer Moffett, and Lucas Larsen held the Bulldogs on their next offensive series. Osborne punted the ball on fourth-and-11 at the Bulldog 17. The ball went out of bounds at the Warriors 39.
A first-down incomplete pass set up second-and-10 at the Warriors 39. On second down, Storm Pickens gained a first down with a run through the middle of the Bulldog defense. He ran again on first down, but the drive halted on second down when Osborne intercepted a Warriors’ pass. Austin Savage stopped the runner from advancing at the Bulldog 27-yard line.
Osborne used the turnover opportunity and scored with 6:38 left in the first quarter. They added a two-point conversion and the Bulldogs led the Warriors, 16-0.
Despite defensive plays by Abe Eldridge, Price, Larsen, Storm Pickens, Trevor Foth, Brent Jones, Moffett, and Brody Kyle, the Bulldogs added two more scores before the half.
Warriors offense struggled and did not score in the first half. The Warriors trailed, 36-0.
After the halftime break, Price put the Warriors in good field position with a return to the Bulldog 39-yard line. Price, Eldridge, and Storm Pickens each had rushes on the drive, but the series ended on a fourth-and-12 Price punt at the Warriors 39.
The Bulldogs covered the field on the next drive that started at their own 14-yard line. Defensive plays from Foth, Jones, Price, Larsen, Storm Pickens, Eldridge, and Moffett kept the Osborne squad out of the end zone and forced a fourth-and-9 pass attempt at the Warriors 14 that fell incomplete.
Storm Pickens pitched to Price on first down of the new series but a second-down pass was intercepted by the Bulldogs. Two plays later, the Osborne squad put up another score and conversion. PBHS trailed, 44-0, with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
Two series later, the Warriors took advantage of a Bulldog fumble at the Osborne 35-yard line to set up their only scoring drive of the contest. On first-and-13 at the Bulldog 25-yard line, Storm Pickens connected with Price in the end zone for the score. The conversion failed, but PBHS got on the board and the score was 44-6.
After the kickoff, Osborne scored on the first play from scrimmage. Two points were added on the second conversion attempt. The Bulldogs had 52-6 lead with 2:05 left in the third quarter and according to the KSHSAA 45-point rule, the game ended.
Price rushed eight times for 45 yards and a touchdown. Storm Pickens rushed 14 times for 35 yards and Eldridge was six for 10. Storm Pickens had one pass completed for 25 yards and a touchdown.
Storm Pickens led the defense with 9 tackles. Jones had 4.5 and Moffett had four. Eldridge recorded 3.5 stops and Foth, Price, and Larsen each had 2.5. Kyle had 1.5 tackles and Savage had one. Hunter Pickens recorded .5.