Piedmont Will Face Rival Today
Most high school football coaches will tell you they would always like more time to prepare for a new season.
For the Piedmont Academy coaches, the time has arrived, however, to take the field for a game that counts. Wes Tanner is entering his second season as the head coach for the Cougars and will lead his team into the 2015 campaign today, August 20 against Gatewood on the road in Eatonton. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
The first game of any new season always has a certain level of excitement, but with Piedmont playing one of its oldest rivals, it has extra meaning.
“It does add more to it,” Tanner said earlier this week. “You want to go out and get a win even more. We have to remember that we have to stay grounded, however. That goes for coaches, players and even fans. It’s the first game. Regardless of what happens, we have a lot of season to play after this contest.”
The Cougars advanced all the way to the GISA Class AA state title game last season, but Tanner was quick to note this is a new season and a new group of players.
One area where this year’s squad has improved during the past few days has been team unity, the coach said.
“We have definitely started to make progress on how we are playing as a team rather than playing as individuals,” Tanner said. “That’s going to be a key for us this season. This team is going to have to go the extra mile to make sure we put the team first. We are going to have to win as a team, not as individuals.”
While some players return from last year’s state runner-up squad, there are some new faces in the mix for 2015.
At quarterback, juniors Mack Brady and Chris McClain and freshman Dalton Whitley have worked at the position during the off season to replace Zach Beggs, who graduated. At fullback, junior Wyatt Galloway and freshman Logan Conner will be looked upon this fall. At the tailback position, seniors Ben Davis and Noah Quick and junior Michael Edwards will be counted on to step up.
McClain along with senior Chandler Burrell, junior Tyler Mills and senior Chris Coogler will line up at wide receiver along with sophomore Corbin Burrell, Edwards and Quick.
Senior Zach Wilson, Whitley, freshman J.T. Webb and senior Tanner Casey are battling for playing time at tight end.
Up front in the trenches will be senior Nolan Cleary, a returning starter, at center. Wilson can also play at the position. Sophomores Jared Autry and Parker Clark will be at right guard with senior Chris Cain and sophomore Brett Bush at right tackle.
Junior Jay Sheets, sophomore Tanner Coppock and senior Clay Kirkpatrick will be at left tackle. Seniors Mike Weatherly and Hunter Whiting will both see time at left guard.
On the defensive side of the football, Autry and Whiting will be at nose guard with Cleary and Weatherly at left defensive tackle. Sheets and Casey will see time at right defensive tackle with Cain and Coppock at strong side defensive end. Whitley and Quick will be at weak side defensive end.
Wilson and Clark will be at inside linebacker with Conner and Bush at the weak side spots.
In the defensive backfield, McClain and Corbin Burrell will play corner along with Mills, Coogler and Davis. Galloway will be at strong safety with Edwards and Brady at free safety.
Chandler Burrell will handle kickoffs with Wilson taking care of the punting duties. Cleary is the long snapper. Brady will kick extra points with Edwards holding.
Tanner said this year’s Gatewood team is similar scheme-wise to those in the past. Senior Palmer Clark, a three-year starter at running back, is the key offensive weapon.
“It will be vital for us to key on him and know where he’s at,” Tanner said. “We have to play our assignments on the option. Overall, we have to take care of the football and play well on special teams. That’s an area you always worry about for the first game, regardless of the opponent.”
Gatewood, coached by Jeff Ratliff, finished 3-9 in 2014, including a 14-7 loss in the season opener to Piedmont. The Gators compete at the Class AAA level of the GISA.
Following the opener against Gatewood this week, the Cougars will remain on the road for the next two games. Piedmont will travel to Bethlehem Christian Academy on Friday, Aug. 28, before venturing to Griffin Christian on Friday, Sept. 4. The home opener for 2015 is set for Sept. 11 against Monsignor Donovan.