Staff writer
PBHS Warriors traveled to Ell-Saline Friday for the first game of the season. They were defeated, 55-8. Up next, the team will have their home opener Friday against Inman.
PBHS offense opened the game with runs by Daniel Brassfield and Derek Price. On a fourth-and-5, Brassfield punted the ball away. Ell-Saline was stopped on the return from going to the end zone by a score-saving tackle made by Brassfield.
Cardinal offense got to the Warrior 8, but PBHS defense thwarted four pass plays for the end zone. The Warriors took over the ball at their own 8-yard line.
Brassfield and Storm Pickens shared duties on the next drive but the Warriors were forced to punt. Cardinal offense scored on the first play, added a PAT and led the game, 7-0, with 6 minutes, 22 seconds on the clock.
Price, Brassfield, and Andrew Sheffler recorded defensive tackles on the next drive, but the Cardinals completed a 24-yard pass for the second score of the ballgame. The PAT attempt was successful and Ell-Saline increased their lead over the Warriors, 14-0.
The first quarter ended with the Warriors on offense. The series included a pitch to Pickens, a run by Price, and a pass to Kyle. PBHS punted and the Cardinals set up offense at the Warrior 24-yard line.
Just seconds into the second quarter, Ell-Saline scored again and added an extra point. The Warriors were down, 21-0, with 11:24 on the clock.
Price, Lucas Larsen, and Pickens touched the ball on the next series but a punt ended the drive.
The Cardinals scored quickly on a completed pass from the Warrior 44. Price blocked the PAT and the Cardinals led, 27-0.
Ell-Saline added seven more with 6:55 left in the half on a completed pass from the Warrior 12. The Warriors trailed, 33-0.
Jacob Gillet put the Warrior offense in the best field position of the half with a 39-yard completed pass with 6:30 left to play. Pickens and Price moved the ball, but the drive stalled on the Cardinal 15.
Defensive stops by Gillet, Hunter Pickens, Storm Pickens, and Price were recorded on the next drive but the Cardinals made the score 41-0 with two minutes left in the half.
Storm Pickens stopped the last scoring drive of the Cardinals prior to the half with an interception in the end zone and a return to the Warrior 37. The Warriors were down, 41-0, at the half.
With the continuous clock in the second half, the Warrior opened on defense. Kyle, Trevor Foth, Spencer Moffett, Gillet, Storm Pickens, Sheffler, Price, Austin Savage, Brent Jones, and Brassfield made tackles in the half.
The Cardinals added two more scores to bring their total for the night to 55.
Warrior offense did not get shut out and a got a score late in the game. Storm Pickens broke loose on two big runs to finish the competition. The first run was on a first-and-10 from the Warrior 41 to the Cardinal 22. The second run was set up on a first-and-10 at the Cardinal 22. Storm Pickens broke right for the Cardinal end zone for the score. Price added a two-point run for the conversion and the game ended with a loss for the Warriors, 55-8.
“We had to face the reigning league champs and they are a solid team,” Head Coach David Pickens said. “Our motto is ‘get better’. Regardless of the outcome, we always want to show improvement. We will keep climbing to reach higher. It’s back to work next week to prepare for our next game.”
Storm Pickens rushed 14 times for 44 yards. Price ran 11 times for 22 yards and Larsen was three for 3. Gillet caught a pass for 39 yards. Price was two for 7 in the passing game. Complete defensive tackle results were not available.