Cougars To Host Quarterfinal Game
The Piedmont Academy football team will begin its quest for a state title this week as the Cougars host Windsor Academy Friday in a GISA Class AA state quarterfinal matchup at Cougar Field. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont (8-2) enters the contest as a No. 1 seed having won the Region 1-AA title. Windsor won its opening round state playoff game last Friday at home against First Presbyterian Christian 58-22 to advance to this week’s matchup against Piedmont.
Windsor and Piedmont met during the 2015 regular season with the Cougars winning a 48-42 offensive shootout. Since that game on Sept. 25 in Macon, Windsor has gone 5-1, including last week’s playoff win.
Starting with its win against Windsor in the regular season, Piedmont has posted five consecutive victories. The Cougars lone losses in 2015 came against two Class AAA schools, both of whom are still in the playoffs at that level.
Windsor’s losses have been to Bulloch Academy, Piedmont and region foe Briarwood. The Knights, under coach Jimmy Watts, were the No. 2 seed from Region 4-AA and are now 8-3 overall.
In the first match-up this season between the Cougars and Knights, Mack Brady rushed for 184 yards while Ben Davis finished with 164 yards on the ground. Brady also completed five passes for 116 yards. Chris McClain had three receptions in the game for 72 yards.
The Cougars were able to establish a strong ground game in the win as Tanner said his offensive line blocked well up front. It will once again be important for Piedmont’s offensive line to play well, much as it has done throughout the 2015 season. Linemen Chris Cain, Nolan Cleary, Mikey Weatherly, Clay Kirkpatrick and Jaron Autry have each excelled this fall.
Despite Windsor scoring 42 points in the regular season match-up, Tanner was not overly disappointed with his defense.
“Our front seven handled the run game for the most part,” Piedmont’s coach said.
Other quarterfinal matchups will include Georgia Christian at Memorial Day, Robert Toombs at Southwest Georgia and Flint River at Briarwood. A Piedmont win this Friday would put the Cougars in the semifinals against the survivor of the Robert Toombs-Southwest Georgia game. If Southwest Georgia and Piedmont both win, the Cougars will be on the road next week as determined by the playoff bracket since both teams are No. 1 seeds.
Piedmont is the defending state runner-up.