The inaugural season of Nettes Flag Football is off to a fast start, with Pickens winning its first three varsity games and picking up a JV victory in its home opener.
The Nettes opened the season on the road at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County, facing Collins Hill and Berkmar. While Pickens participated in several scrimmages over the summer, the trip marked the first official competition in program history.
Pickens opened against Collins Hill and scored first behind senior quarterback Skyler Lathem. Collins Hill answered with a long touchdown run to tie the game at 6-6.
The Nettes later surrendered a safety and trailed 8-6 before sophomore Darbi Stanley led a scoring drive to put Pickens back in front. The Nettes added another late touchdown to secure a 19-8 victory and the first win in program history.
Game two against Berkmar provided even more drama.
Neither team managed to score in regulation, sending the game to overtime tied 0-0. Pickens won the toss and elected to play defense first.
Berkmar received the ball at the 10-yard line with four plays to score, but the Pickens defense held.
The Nettes needed only one play on offense, connecting on a pass over the middle for a touchdown and a 6-0 victory.
Sitting at 2-0, Pickens returned home Monday night to host rival Gilmer in the program’s first JV and varsity home games. A sizable crowd came out to see the new program and was treated to a pair of Pickens shutouts.
The JV Nettes opened the evening with a 13-0 victory, highlighted by an aggressive defensive effort and a long touchdown pass from Elin Porio to Aubrey Phelps.
Players from the Pickens recreation flag football program were recognized between games before the varsity teams took the field.
It didn’t take long for Pickens to give the home crowd something to cheer about. Lathem intercepted a Gilmer pass and returned it for a touchdown on the Lady Cats’ opening possession. The Nettes scored again on their first offensive possession to take control early.
Sophomore Edy Wyngaard hauled in two long touchdown receptions, while the Pickens defense kept Gilmer out of the end zone throughout the night.
With Pickens leading 24-0 at the two-minute mark of the fourth quarter, the game ended under the flag football mercy rule, giving the Nettes their third consecutive victory to begin the program’s first season.
Pickens will travel to Creekview on Sept. 30 to face Creekview and Etowah. The Nettes return home Oct. 8 to host Johnson and West Forsyth.
