Cougars to Host State Title Game Friday
For the Piedmont Academy football team, it all comes down to this.
The Cougars will host Edmund Burke Friday at 7:30 p.m. for the Georgia Independent Schools Association Class AA state title.
Piedmont (12-0) is looking for its first state football championship in school history. This marks the sixth time in program history a team has competed for a state title.
The Cougars have already won a region championship, posted an undefeated regular season and won two state playoff games in 2010. However, the ultimate goal is now in front of the players as they host the final contest this week.
Rhett Farmer, now in his second season directing the Piedmont program, was a member of Barney Hester’s coaching staff at Tattnall Square in Macon for several years and was part of five state championship teams.
“We will stress to our players that it’s just another game,” Farmer said. “This is not going to change our routine in the way we plan for Friday night. We will keep doing what got us to 12-0.”
While the Cougar players are out of school this week for Thanksgiving, practice was set to be conducted at the same time on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. A morning practice session is set for Thanksgiving (Thursday). The players will arrive at the school in the early afternoon Friday although Farmer was not sure of the exact time earlier this week.
Piedmont advanced to the championship by defeating Valwood 45-14 last week (see related story.) Edmund Burke (9-3) was able to survive a 15-14 semifinal game against Southwest Georgia on the road to reach this week’s final contest. The Cougars defeated the Spartans 34-14 in region play during the regular season.
Meeting a team in a rematch always adds an extra element to a game, Farmer said.
“I was impressed that Edmund Burke went to Southwest Georgia last week and won,” the Piedmont coach said. “This team has really improved since the last time we saw them. However, we feel like we’ve improved too.”
Even during the preseason, Farmer said he believed Edmund Burke was going to be a quality team.
“They are the best team we’ve played,” Farmer said. “It will be two very good teams in the championship game.”
The Spartans will run out of multiple offensive looks including the I-formation, wishbone, spread and one-back look.
“They run their offense well and don’t make many mistakes,” Farmer said. “They don’t turn the football over much. They are a fundamentally sound football team. They are very patient on offense.”
Alex Sturkie helps lead the Edmund Burke offense while Michael Taylor is a force on the defensive side at linebacker.
The Spartans will likely throw several defensive looks at the Cougars including the 4-4, 5-3 and even a 6-man look in an effort to slow down Piedmont’s strong rushing attack.
“They stunt a good bit,” Farmer said. “They can give us problems. Our coaches did a good job making adjustments the last time we played them.”
How do some of the Cougar players feel about reaching the championship game?
“It’s very exciting,” said standout running back Blake Hammock. “We will just have to play our regular team ball and keep doing what we have been doing.”
Lineman Daniel Leinweber said the keys to victory are simple.
“We’ll have to stop Sturkie,” the junior said. “It will take a great defensive effort from us. Offensively, we’ll have to hold onto the football and try to wear them down.”
Quarterback Alex Hall, who has directed the offense throughout 2010, said playing in the state championship is the goal for any competitor.
“We just need to keep playing as a team and execute like we are capable of doing on offense and defense,” Hall said. “If we play with heart, we have a great chance.”
It is the first time since 1993 Piedmont has reached the state championship. The Cougars also played for state in 1975, 1981, 1987 and 1988, finishing as runner-up each time. The Cougars were undefeated going into the state game in 1987 and 1988. Piedmont also had an undefeated regular season in 1982 but lost in the second round of the playoffs.
Piedmont has outscored its opponents 577-201 in 12 games in 2010. Edmund Burke held the Cougars to its second lowest point total in a game (34) during the team’s Oct. 8 matchup. The three losses this season for the Spartans were against Piedmont, Class AAA Westfield (18-7) and to Westminster (Augusta) by a 25-22 score.
NOTES: The Piedmont coaching staff has plenty of state championship game tie-ins. Assistant Keith Mason played on the 1987 team which advanced to the state finals while assistant Joel Sauls was a member of the 1987 and 1988 state runner-up football teams.
“Hopefully we can win it all this year,” Mason said. “It will be different coaching in a state championship,” Sauls said. “I’m glad our players will get to see what it’s like for themselves and won’t have to hear me keep talking about what it’s like.”
Head coach Rhett Farmer was part of five state championship coaching staffs at Tattnall Square Academy in Macon. Assistant Josh Daher, who was a multi-sport standout at George Walton Academy in Monroe, helped his high school teams to two state basketball titles and a baseball championship. He also played football for the Bulldogs.
In addition to Mason (Class of 1988) and Sauls (Class of 1990) being Piedmont graduates, assistant coach Bubba Nelson is a member of the school’s Class of 1976. Walt Nelson, Bubba’s son, is the team’s statistician and a member of the Class of 2003. Both are former players for the school and experienced state play-off games. Bubba was an All-Region player on the 1973 team for coaches David Atkins and John Strother and continued All-Region status for the remainder of his high school career. Walt was an All-Region player in 2001 and 2002 playing for Coaches Charlie Lane, Joel Sauls and Keith Mason.
Nelson Cullum was also a member of that team and his son, Tyler, is now on the 2010 squad.
Defensive coordinator Wes Tanner is in his fourth season with the program. His father, Tony Tanner, is Piedmont’s headmaster and a long-time successful football coach himself.
