Cougars Defeat Old Rival for First Win

The Piedmont Academy football team, which has been undergoing a learning process in 2012, posted its first win of the season last Friday at Cougar Field with a 38-7 victory against long-time rival Gatewood.

Piedmont showed improvement in several areas and in the process dispatched of a long-time rival. Peter Lawson rushed for 134 yards and a score on 20 carries while Nick Dimsdale added 87 yards on eight rushes and a score.

“We played with more intensity,” coach Rhett Farmer said. “We challenged our kids to finish their blocks and tackles. We also did not turn the football over as much. We had two turnovers and one was a fourth and short. Limiting the amount of turnovers we had was a huge key to our success.”

Gaven Edge, who was the team’s offensive player of the game, had three receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Hunter Knox finished 4-of-6 through the air with two scores. He also rushed the football eight times.

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“Our defense also played well,” Farmer said. “We didn’t convert on a couple of fourth down tries near midfield and that caused our defense to have to make a stand.”

Hunter Clark, the defensive player of the game, made 11 solo tackles and seven assists. Malik Reid recorded five solo stops, six assists and recovered a fumble. Payden Cantera had five solo tackles and two assists while Edge had six solo stops, five assists, an interception and a fumble recovery.

In the third area of the game — special teams — the Cougars also shined.

“It was a fun night,” Farmer said. “Maybe we are starting to get better.”

While the win against Gatewood was enjoyable and memorable, the coaches and players have little time to celebrate as a trip to Waynesboro to face Edmund Burke looms this Friday. The game will be a rematch of the past two state championship contests.

“We will stay with our basics in practice this week,” Farmer said. “We will continue to do what we need to do. Defensively, it’s all about getting better with each game. We hope to build on what we improved on last Friday.”

Edmund Burke enters this week’s game at 2-1-1 with victories against Briarwood and Thomas Jefferson Jefferson and a loss to Valwood. The Spartans tied Community Christian 15-15 last week.

“We may look at throwing the football a little more,” Farmer said. “We threw it better Friday against Gatewood even though we didn’t necessarily throw it a lot. We are a running team built around the I-formation. We aren’t going to go completely away from that, especially being as young as we are.”

While Edmund Burke lost some skill players from 2011, the Spartans have the advantage of returning most of their offensive and defensive lines.

“They are very physical,” Farmer said. “They have been very good up front for the past two years.”

Even with the game being a rematch of the past two state title games, the Piedmont coach said he’s not sure it will be played up quite as much this time.

“We are not in the same region anymore,” Farmer said. “I’m sure their kids will be hungry to defeat us. We have some freshmen playing who were not even a part of the varsity program the past two years so it will be new to them.”

Edmund Burke will use a two-tight end, wishone set offensively. Their bruising style of play concerns Farmer since his team is young in spots. The Spartans will also use a spread formation and some trips and shotgun looks. Standout running back Hagan Wade is back in 2012.

Defensively, Farmer expects this week’s opponent to play a similar scheme to last season with a wide tackle six man front look along with some 5-3 and 4-4 formations.

“It will be a big week for us,” the Piedmont coach said. “We have to learn to play better when we travel. This will be a big opportunity for us to stay consistent after a good performance last week.”

Kickoff in Friday’s road game in Waynesboro is set for 7:30 p.m.

STATS VS GATEWOOD

Offensive

•Peter Lawson: 20 carries for 134 yards, 1 TD

•Hunter Knox: 8 carries for 11 yards, 4 for 6 passing for 85 yards, 2TDs

•Nick Dimsdale: 8 carries for 87 yards, 1 TD

•Gaven Edge: 3 receptions for 73 yards, 2 TD’s

•Hank Strickland: 1 reception for 12 yards

•Malik Reid: 1 carry for 20 yards, 1 TD