Special Night to be Long Remembered

When all was said and done Friday night, the Piedmont Academy football team had no more opponents to defeat.

Playing before a massive turnout of fans, the Cougars capped a perfect 13-0 season by winning their first ever football state championship.

It was a special night for a special group of players and their coaches. State championships, by their nature, are tough, often impossible, to obtain. Piedmont had been in this position five times before but had come up short.
Perhaps two of the most heartbreaking losses came in 1987 and 1988 when those Cougar teams, like this year’s squad, went into the final game 12-0.

Those teams were unable to claim the state championship trophy, however, despite talented players and special seasons in their own right.

It’s why winning the ultimate prize—in any sport—is so difficult and then so special once obtained.

Piedmont is now led by Rhett Farmer, a coach who cut his teeth at the most successful football program in the GISA since 1988.
Farmer was a part of five state championships at Tattnall Square Academy working for Barney Hester, arguably the best coach the league has ever seen walk the sideline.

Farmer now has a state championship of his own as a head coach, something many great mentors never achieve.

One thing I was proud to see this past Friday night was a crossover of our community at the game.

People without direct ties to Piedmont were in attendance. They were there to see a quality football game I’m sure, but they were also there supporting these student-athletes and coaches who have worked so hard to accomplish this state championship dream.

It’s something Jasper County can be proud of it. All during the week, talk about the game was a hot topic on Facebook among those with ties to Monticello and Jasper County. Supporting our young people is something we should all take pride in.

The win was not easy last Friday. It was not a one-sided game where the Cougars walked through their competition. That was done plenty of times in 2010, but the opponent wasn’t going to be thrown on the sacrificial fire this night.

The victory was earned and that probably allowed the coaches and players to enjoy it all the more. As the celebration began, you couldn’t help but be engulfed by it all.

The pats on the back, the handshakes and the feelings that come with being the best at something are things which will long be remembered.

A special event occurred in our community on Nov. 26, 2010. Years, decades even, from now, that night at Cougar Field will be remembered, talked about and relived as the glory day it was.
For the members of the 2010 Piedmont Academy football team, take a bow. You deserve it and all the accolades that go with this honor.
I would say I’m already looking forward to 2011, but I think I’ll enjoy this moment for just a little bit longer.