Cougars Defeat Curtis Baptist, 26-19
It was a tougher game than some might have expected, but the Piedmont Academy football team recorded a tough 26-19 win on the road against Curtis Baptist last Friday.
Competing without two key starters because of injuries, the Cougars were still able to record the win and improve to 4-1 this season. The win impressed Piedmont coach Charlie Lane.
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“This win will help us confidence-wise,” Lane said. “We learned that we can be successful even if we don’t have some of our top players.”
The Cougars were without the services of running backs Daniel Beckham and Jeremy “Bulldog” Reese. Lane said he believed it was best to hold the two players out.
“We felt, win or lose, it was the right thing to do,” the Piedmont coach said. “We need them to get well before our region schedule begins. We felt we had a chance to win without them, but even if that wasn’t the case they needed to stay out.”
In Beckham and Reese’s absence, other players had a chance to shine against Curtis Baptist. Josh Daniel rushed for 138 yards and had two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score. Matt Allen added 83 yards on the ground.
Rob Wynens had a big game at receiver catching three passes for 75 yards and a score. Lane reshuffled his offensive line moving his two ends into the backfield. Keith Pulliam also moved from guard to end while Wynens moved inside from his flanker spot.
“In making the adjustments for this game we learned some things that we can use later in the season if there is a need,” Lane said. “We know where we can put some players when other guys need rest.”
The Cougars led 20-13 at halftime. Both teams added a score in the second half and the game ended with Piedmont on the Curtis Baptist 4-yard line.
Piedmont could have scored again, but Lane said he was more concerned with simply running out the clock so the Curtis Baptist offense wouldn’t have another chance to score.
Defensively, Neil Gilbert had 10 tackles while Allen recorded nine and Pulliam had eight. Taylor Marsh intercepted a Curtis Baptist pass.
Piedmont has time to heal before the Region 4-AA opener. The Cougars are off this week and will return to action Oct. 3 when they face long-time rival Gatewood.
“We hope to have everyone back to 100 percent for region,” Lane said. “Our off week comes at a great time for us.”
Piedmont has won the region title the past two seasons and is looking to win it for a third consecutive time.
If the Cougars do accomplishment that task, it would be the first time in school history the football team has won three consecutive region crowns.