There's No Place like Home...

Last Saturday saw our middle school team take the home side of the field for the first time this year. The players sported their new pregame gear as they came out for their warmups in front of a growing home crowd. The cheerleaders also donned their uniforms for the first time making for a real game day experience. The only thing missing this week was the band, but the rumor is that Mr. Linley will soon have them ready to take their places in the stands soon enough!

Much like the last two weeks Pepperell wasted no time demonstrating the fruits of the off season work and dedication. A nice ball fake and a good read allowed Chance Hopper to get on the edge of the defense and around the corner setting Pepperell up deep in Armuchee territory. A couple of handoffs to Tre Chatman and Payden Newberry and Pepperell was on the doorstep for the first time of the day. However, a miscommunication in route running negated a touchdown opportunity and on the next play Armuchee picked off a pass intended for Blayze McCary.

No worries for Pepperell, as the strong suit of this football team seems to lie on the defensive side of the ball. After the first carry netted all of yard and was buried by most of the defense simultaneously the next play, a pass, was interecepted by Tre Chatman setting Pepperell us inside the 20 yard line. A couple of plays later Payden Newberry would take an A gap hitter to the backside gap and slide his way into the endzone for the first score of the day. The reliable Christian Sandoval would add the extra point.

The kickoff game, which has been exceptionally strong for Pepperell, once again set the tone for the defense. A deep kick and a disciplined bunch of guys plugged the running lanes and finished the play with a violent tackle. As usual, the opponent would have to begin their drive behind the 35 yard line.

Armuchee would keep the ball for three consecutive plays on this possession but would finish the drive with negative yards. The front four of Anderson, Barkley, Nichols, and Sandoval corralled most every tackle opportunity but Newberry and Kohen Treglown helped out when they could. Armuchee would punt on fourth down.

The offensive line anchored by Evan Tate and comprised of Sandoval, Treglown, Nic Kinney, and Nichols, made life difficult for the opposing team. Solid blocking and assignment execution provided open lanes for the running backs early and often. Pepperell worked behind the offensive line to position themselves for several scoring opportunities. Chance Hopper connected on a corner route to Tyler Barkley for his first of two touchdown completions. His second would come late in the second quarter when he hit Tre Chatman on a seam route out of the backfield to complete Pepperell's scoring.

The JV squad would take over in the second half turning in an outstanding defensive performance. Led by Zander 'Tank' Williams and Sawyer Mills, the JV squad would help to hold Armuchee to just one score on the day. The JV offense turned in another strong showing behind the leadership of 7th grade QB Asher Lawrence and some hard running by Ken Dodson and Cole Beard. Zay Penn, Brayden Dooley and Amos Know would record receptions for Pepperell.

Up next: Chattooga 9/3/24