War on 74: Washington pulls away in the third, beats Purcell 42–25

PURCELL — Washington turned a tight rivalry game into a statement win after halftime, riding Josiah Dickerson’s three rushing scores and a 64-yard TD catch plus a steady night from QB Creed Barrett to defeat Purcell 42–25 on Friday at Conger Field. The Warriors have now won 11 straight in the series and lead it 13–6 all-time.

Washington struck first when Javen Hall powered in late in the opening quarter (6–0). Purcell answered on a Deakin Dobbins keeper (6–6), but the Warriors closed the frame with Dickerson’s first TD and a 2-point conversion by Barrett (14–6).

The Dragons cut it to 14–12 early in the second on Carter Bennett’s score, but Dickerson answered before the break for a 21–12 Washington lead.

The third quarter flipped the game: Barrett finished the opening drive with a keeper (28–12), then hit Dickerson down the right sideline for 64 yards and a back-breaker to make it 35–12. Purcell stayed in it as Dobbins found Cooper Selmon for 42 yards (35–18).

Purcell drew closer in the fourth on a Dobbins strike to Oscar Wren (35–25), but Dickerson’s third rushing TD sealed it.

STAT BOX

Washington (WHS)

• Team totals: Rushing 27–304; Passing 5–10–94–1–0; Total Offense 398.
  
• Rushing:
  
  • Josiah Dickerson 11–148, 3 TD
  
  • Javen Hall 11–123, TD
  
  • Creed Barrett 3–17, TD
  
  • Kade Babcock 1–9
  
• Passing: Creed Barrett 5–10–94, TD, 0 INT
  
• Receiving:
  
  • Dickerson 1–64, TD
  
  • (Others combined) 4–30
  

Purcell (PHS)

• Team totals: Rushing 57–249; Passing 7–13–122–2–0; Total Offense 371.
  
• Rushing:
  
  • Deakin Dobbins 25–124, TD
  
  • Carter Bennett 15–69, TD
  
  • Cash Cook 9–28
  
  • (Others combined) 8–28
  
• Passing: Deakin Dobbins 7–13–122, 2 TD, 0 INT
  
• Receiving:
  
  • Cooper Selmon 1–42, TD
  
  • Oscar Wren 1–11, TD
  
  • (Others combined) 5–69
  

Scoring Summary

1Q — WASH: Javen Hall rush TD (0–6); PUR: Dobbins rush TD (6–6); WASH: Dickerson rush TD, Barrett 2-pt run (6–14).

2Q — PUR: Bennett rush TD (12–14); WASH: Dickerson rush TD (12–21).

3Q — WASH: Barrett rush TD (12–28); WASH: Barrett → Dickerson 64-yd TD (12–35); PUR: Dobbins → Selmon 42-yd TD (2-pt failed) (18–35).

4Q — PUR: Dobbins → Wren TD (25–35); WASH: Dickerson rush TD (25–42).

Player of the Game: Josiah Dickerson (WHS) — 11 rush for 148 and 3 TD; 1 catch for 64 and a TD (4 total).

Turning point: Washington’s first two drives of the third quarter (Barrett keeper, then 64-yard Barrett→Dickerson TD) ballooned a 21–12 game to 35–12.

What’s next

• Washington: Bye week, then hosts Dickson in Week 4 to open district.
  
• Purcell: Home vs. Lexington in the Battle on the Bridge.