Cougars Open New Season Friday

After months of offseason work, Piedmont Academy will play a football game that counts Friday night as the Cougars welcome Westwood Academy for a 7:30 p.m. start.

The Wildcats are coming off a strong three-year run, which produced two GISA Class A state titles and a runner-up season in Class AA last fall. From all indications, Westwood will be just as strong in 2013.

Piedmont returned to work last week following its preseason scrimmage August 9, but has continued to be plagued somewhat by the injury bug.

“Things have started to get a little better,” Cougar coach Rhett Farmer said earlier this week. “We did not get a ton accomplished in terms of being physical, but scheme-wise, we did get some things accomplished.”

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For Farmer, there is no denying the toughness once again of the season opener.

“In my mind, Westwood is one of the top two or three programs in the state,” the coach said. “They are a serious state title contender again this year. They have played in the state title game the last three years. They have a core of last year’s team returning. I see them, on paper, as being a real contender.”

Piedmont began focusing on Westwood’s offensive and defensive schemes last week and will continue to do so this week leading the contest.

“I’m glad we have another week to prepare for them,” Farmer said.

Hunter Knox returns for the Cougars at quarterback for his junior season. Chris McClain and Dylan Efird have also worked at the position in the preseason.

In the backfield, the depth is sound with several players being able to contribute in 2013. Cameron Hammock, Wyatt Galloway, Malik Reid and Efird will see time at fullback with Gaven Edge, Hank Strickland and Austin Taylor at tailback.

Britton Bailey and Ben Davis will be at split end while Strickland, Taylor and Tyler Patterson will be at flanker.

Mills Smith and Evan Harvey are expected to contribute at tight end.

Along the offensive front, Mike Weatherly returns at center after being in the starting role in that spot as a freshman. Zach Wilson, Chris Cain, Payden Cantera and Harvey will see playing time at guard. Cantera can also play center.

McKenzie Brittain, Zach Whitwell, Clay Kirkpatrick and Joseph Hardin will be at tackle. Michael Davis is expected to be up front but has been slowed with a broken hand.

Hunter Burson will also play a key role on the offensive line this fall and will also be along the defensive front at various times on Friday night.

On defense for coordinator Jeff Kent, Edge, Taylor and Davis will be in the secondary along with Strickland, Britton Bailey, Patterson, Knox and McClain.

Efird, Reid, Cantera, Galloway and Edge will be at linebacker. Up front, Smith, Harvey and Hammock will be at defensive end. Several players will fill in at the “Tackle, Nose, Tackle” or “TNT” positions along the defensive front.

On special teams, Austin Bass will handle the kicking duties with Wilson taking care of punting. Harvey and Brittain will be the long snappers called upon by the coaches.

Farmer said he has mixed emotions playing such a formidable team right out of the gate. On one hand, Farmer said he expects his team to compete with Westwood and to battle for the win. Still, the coach, entering his fifth season with Piedmont, knows it will be a tough challenge on opening night.

“We had trouble filling our schedule after we won back-to-back state titles,” Farmer said. “So we added Westwood in. The schedules are done for two years so they are making the trip to us this time. They are the favorite. They have more players returning. Plus, our kids and coaches know it’s a long season.

“A mark of patience and quality coaching is how much you improve over the season. We aren’t going to sell the farm to win a non-region game. However, we will still believe in our kids regardless of what happens this Friday.”

Last year’s contest, won 40-21 by Westwood in Camilla, was probably one of the more hyped season openers in recent GISA history.

Both teams were coming off back-to-back undefeated seasons and two state titles each. While Westwood won the 2012 match-up to extend its winning streak, the Wildcats lost the following week 17-0 to Class AAA Stratford.

“This year’s game certainly won’t have the same level of hype, but both teams will be ready,” Farmer said.

First-year Piedmont defensive coordinator Jeff Kent said Westwood runs a similar offense to the Cougars. J.T. Edore is a four-year starter at running back for the Wildcats.

“I coached against him when he was a freshman and he’s just gotten better each year,” Kent said. “He will be a centerpiece of their offense once again. They are going to run it most of the time.

There probably aren’t many people expecting Westwood to lose. We have to play physical because that’s how they play. Neither team throws it much. Our defensive plan is to keep their offense off the field.”

It’s an old adage in football, but winning the turnover battle is key for Piedmont.

“Our goal is to win that margin by two,” Kent said. “We want to create fumbles. It’s something that we work on. We have ‘Takeaway Tuesdays’ in practice where we work on forcing turnovers. We are going to have to play well and play smart and do the things we are capable of doing. Their players are used to being in big games.”

Kent arrives at Piedmont after working during the offseason at the University of Tennessee/Chattanooga. He has also coached at Bulloch Academy and Georgia Military College. Kent is a 2005 graduate of Briarwood Academy. Farmer is also assisted this season by returning assistants Bubba Nelson, Keith Mason and Alvin Hawkes and new assistant Michael Wilson.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Cougar Field.

SCOUTING REPORT:

•The Game: Piedmont hosts Westwood, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Cougar Field

•Records: Piedmont, 0-0 (5-6 in 2012); Westwood 0-0 (11-3 in 2012)

•Coaches: Piedmont Rhett Farmer; Westwood, Ross Worsham

•Last Meeting: Westwood won 40-21 in Camilla in 2012

•Game Notes: The game is a match-up between two of the more successful programs in recent seasons in the GISA. Piedmont won back-to-back state titles in AA in 2010 and 2011 while Westwood won consecutive titles in Class A. The Wildcats moved up in classification in 2012 but still enjoyed success, advancing to the state game once again before falling to Valwood 48-13. The game is one of the better week one match-ups in the GISA.