Cougars Lost to Trinity Christian at Home

Piedmont Academy’s football team is going through some growing pains this season.

The Cougars fell 35-14 to Trinity last Friday as the visiting Crusaders spoiled the home opener for coach Rhett Farmer’s team. Piedmont is now 0-2 early in the 2012 season.

“We didn’t play well in several areas once again,” Farmer said. “We made some special teams mistakes, including a bad punt which went into the back of our protector. We also cut the lead to two scores and then allowed a kickoff return.”

There remains plenty to work on offensively and defensively as well, the coach said.

“We tackled poorly and we missed too many assignments on offense,” Farmer said. “When you are bad in all three phases of the game, you are going to get beat. There were really not a lot of bright spots.

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We are young and part of it goes back to that, but our older players are also making mistakes.”

Perhaps the area that youth is showing up the most is on the offensive front.

“That is accounting for our missed blocking assignments,” Farmer said. “We have to keep working. People aren’t always going to line up where you practice for them to. We have to understand our complete blocking scheme. We will continue to teach and work on tackling, just like we do throughout the season. On defense, we have too many people standing around waiting to make a play.”

Peter Lawson finished Friday with 112 yards on 18 carries. Hunter Knox continues to play well in his first season at quarterback completing 3-of-5 pass attempts.

Defensively, Gaven Edge recorded three solo tackles with two assists. Lawson finished with three solo stops and four assists. Hank Strickland had six assists and one pass break-up.

Josh Hempel remains perfect on extra-point attempts through two games.

The next contest doesn’t get much easier for Piedmont, who has an extremely tough non-region schedule. The Cougars will venture to Brentwood in Sandersville this Friday.

The Eagles continue to run their Wing-T offense this season led by running back Garrett Riggs. While he missed the season opener against John Milledge two weeks ago, Riggs will likely be back this Friday.

“It’s hard to tell if they will be at full speed,” Farmer said. “We expect they will be. We can’t give up big plays. I believe we will get better. We are still ironing out some details right now.”

Defensively, Brentwood will use 5-3 and 4-4 looks to slow down Piedmont’s ground attack.

While 0-2, Piedmont has yet to play a region game. The Cougars have several quality non-region opponents on this year’s schedule.

STATS vs. Trinity

Offense

•Peter Lawson: 18 carries for 112

•Hunter Knox: 13 carries for 26 yards and 1 TD, 3-of-5 passing for 29 yards and 1 TD

•Nick Dimsdale: 5 carries for 27 yards, 1 reception for 9 yards

•Gaven Edge: 6 carries for 34 yards, 1 reception for 15 yards and 1 TD

•Mills Smith: 1 reception for 5 yards

Defense

•Peter Lawson: 3 solos and 4 assists

•Malik Reid: 1 assist

•Hunter Clark: 1 assist, 5 solos

•Britton Bailey: 1 solo, and 1 assist

•Nick Dimsdale: 3 assists and 3 solo

•Mills Smith: 2 solos

•Hank Strickland: 6 assists and 1 pass break up

•Glade Tuggle: 1 assist

•Gaven Edge: 3 solos and 2 assists

•Payden Cantera: 2 solos and 5 assists

•Andrew Wilzman: 1 solo

•Justin Autry: 3 solos and 4 assists

•Evan Harvey: 1 assist

•McKenzie Brittain: 2 solos

•Chris Cain: 2 solos, 3 assists

•Zack Whitwell: 2 assists

Special Teams:

• Josh Hempel: 2-of-2 on point-after attempts