Cougars Begin Playoffs at Home Friday
The Piedmont Academy football team accomplished one of its goals for the 2014 season by winning the Region 1-AA title October 31.
Now the Cougars will look to begin the final steps toward every team’s ultimate goal when they begin the state playoffs this Friday. Piedmont will host Robert Toombs in a second-round matchup at Cougar Field with a 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Piedmont earned a bye in the opening round of the playoffs due its region championship and being a No. 1 seed. Robert Toombs was scheduled to play Crisp Academy in the opening round, but the Crusaders ended up with a bye after the Wildcats waived the white flag and forfeited the game before it was played.
As a result, both teams are coming off an off week even though the original intent was not for No. 2 seeds to have a bye.
“There’s nothing we can do about that,” Piedmont coach Wes Tanner said. “It is going to be a very tough game for us. We haven’t been done a favor by facing them at this point.”
The game will likely be one of the more competitive quarterfinal matchups. Robert Toombs is 9-2 overall with only a two-point setback to Memorial Day and a loss to an opponent from Florida. The Crusaders’ 20-18 loss to Memorial Day on Oct. 3 prevented them from being the champions of Region 2-AA.
Tanner said this week’s contest will be a extremely tough playoff opener for his team. Piedmont is 8-1 overall with its only loss coming to Class AAA John Milledge Academy, which finished the regular season 9-1 with its only defeat coming to No. 1-ranked Westfield.
The key for the Cougars defensively will be to stop Crusader running back Rico Rogers, who helped lead his team to the Class A state title last season before moving up to AA. Rogers has rushed for approximately 2,000 yards this season with more than 20 touchdowns.
“They line up in the I-formation and feature him,” Tanner said. “Their linemen do a good job up front.”
Defensively, Robert Toombs uses a 50 front with five down linemen and two or three linebackers, depending on down and distance.
“We have to find a way to slow them down and eliminate big plays,” Tanner said. “We want to make them drive the football and not allow 50 or 60-yard runs.”
With an off week, Piedmont coaches began installing the defensive game plan last week for the matchup with the Crusaders. Planning will continue this week leading up to Friday’s quarterfinal contest.
“Some people think this game could be a semifinal or championship-caliber contest,” Tanner said. “You have to play them at some point so we will be ready for this week. It should be a good game with both teams giving everything they have.”
Piedmont will be led offensively by senior Hunter Knox, who has amassed an impressive 1,719 yards this season with 24 touchdowns. Hank Strickland is the team’s top receiver with 380 yards and five scores on 15 catches.
Michael Edwards has eight catches for 204 yards and four touchdowns while Knox has 104 yards receiving.
Defensively, Jeremiah Dave has 77 total tackles while Chris Cain has 70 and Gaven Edge has 61. All three players have multiple tackles for losses. Cain has 3.5 quarterback sacks.
On special teams, Chase Young is 57-of-58 on extra-point kicks and 2-of-2 on field goals.
NOTES: Piedmont Academy’s state championship baseball teams from 1992 and 2014 will be honored Friday night. School officials are inviting all players and coaches from these teams to be at the football game this week to be recognized.
SCOUTING REPORT:
•The Game: Piedmont Academy hosts Robert Toombs, Friday, 7:30 p.m., quarterfinal round of GISA Class AA playoffs, admission $8 for adults, $5 for students
•Records: Piedmont 8-1 overall, Robert Toombs 9-2 overall
•Coaches: Piedmont: Wes Tanner, first season as head coach at Piedmont, previously served as defensive coordinator; Robert Toombs: Thomas Smith is 32-18 in four seasons with the Crusaders
•Last Week: Both teams had byes.
•At Stake: Winner advances to state semifinals
•Notes: The second-round playoff contest is an extremely tough draw for the Piedmont Academy Cougars. Robert Toombs won the Class A title last season and just missed being region champion this season after a 2-point loss to Memorial Day. The Crusaders have a strong rushing game.
The contest should be one of the more competitive quarterfinal games.