Cougars Head to State Playoffs
It was a disappointing end to the regular season for the Piedmont Academy football team, but the Cougars are hoping to put last week’s game result behind them as the first-round of the state playoffs begin this Friday.
Piedmont (3-7 overall) fell to non-region foe Thomas Jefferson 40-14 on the road last week as the Cougars were done in by a sluggish start. The host Jaguars led 21-0 less than halfway into the first quarter on only three plays.
Thomas Jefferson returned the opening kickoff for a score and after holding Piedmont to three plays and out struck again on a 75-yard run.
Another three-and-out for the Cougar offense set the Jaguars up for a 60-yard passing score.
“Thomas Jefferson is a young team, but they are quick,” said Piedmont coach Danny Camp. “The bottom line is we didn’t show up to play. It seems like we don’t starting playing until we get down two or three scores.”
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Despite last week’s loss, Camp said several players continue to perform well including quarterback Zac Hauther and running back Matt Allen. Hauther, a sophomore, has now passed for 600 yards this season and continues to improve each week, his coach said.
Allen finished last week with 87 yards rushing on 13 carries and recorded nine tackles and recovered a fumble on the defensive side of the football.
Other top performers against Thomas Jefferson included Lance Richardson, who rushed for 64 yards on 15 carries, and D.J. Allen, who recorded 6.5 tackles.
Christopher Hornibrook added three tackles.
Matt Allen scored a 4-yard touchdown while Hauther connected with Rob Wynens on a 21-yard score for the team’s other touchdown last Friday. Wynens also had two punts for more than 40 yards each.
Piedmont’s slow start to games is something that bothers Camp, however.
“When you wake up on Friday morning, you should be ready to play,” the coach said. “We do get stronger as the game goes on, but it’s too late by then.”
The first-year coach said he realizes his team is young and many times youth does play a factor.
Piedmont has been preparing this week to stop the strong passing attack of the Tiftarea Panthers. Tiftarea, the No. 2 seed from Region 3-AA, has scored at least 35 points in four its games this season.
The Panthers only region loss was a 51-35 setback to Southwest Georgia.
“We hope they overlook us,” Camp said. “I also hope we can go out and play four quarters instead of three. Other than the Flint River game, we have played well in our recent games.”
Camp said Tiftarea’s quarterback (Bryan Ellis) is a “quality passer with two receivers who can catch the football.”
Ellis has thrown for 1,453 yards and 18 touchdowns to this point in the 2004 season.
“This game will be a challenge,” Camp said. “On defense, Tiftarea is going to give you several different looks. Regardless of what happens, I am proud of this team. Seasons like this are not easy, but I believe our future is bright.”
Kickoff Friday night in Chula is set for 7:30 p.m.