Football Cougars Lose Opener
In a game that literally went down to the final play, the Piedmont Academy football team came up a little short in its 2016 season opener at Bethlehem Christian Academy last Friday.
The Cougars (0-1) dropped a 13-6 contest in one of the earliest regular season games in program history. Piedmont had one final chance to tie the game or possibly win on the last play of regulation, but a pass attempt was unsuccessful.
“We’ll be fine, “ said coach Wes Tanner. “We will learn from this and improve. Bethlethem Christian was ready. You have to give them credit.”
Leading 6-3 at halftime, the Cougars were unable to add any more points in the second half. Piedmont’s lone touchdown came on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Mack Brady to Chris McClain with 53 seconds left before halftime. The extra-point attempt failed to leave the Cougars in front by three points.
Piedmont took the second half opening series at its own 19-yard line but fumbled on its third play of the possession. The Cougars defense then held BCA to a field goal attempt which was successful and tied the score at 6-6 at the 10:13 mark of the third quarter.
Tanner saw his team put together an impressive drive on its second possession of the third quarter, moving from its own 20 to the BCA 31-yard line. Brady then connected with Wyatt Galloway on a 31-yard touchdown but the play was called back due to an offensive penalty. Now faced with fourth and 17 at the Knight 36, the drive ended on an interception.
BCA then moved 73 yards capped by a 47-yard touchdown run by Tanner Schwebel with 3:13 left in the third quarter.
Piedmont went three and out on its next possession but the defense kept the game at one possession followed by a botched field goal attempt by the Knights from 25 yards out.
Now with a greater sense of urgency, the Cougars moved from their own 15-yard line to inside BCA’s 20 before turning the football over on downs.
The Knights were then forced to punt after three plays and Piedmont regained possession at its own 40 with 3:23 left. Benefiting from a defensive pass interference call, the Cougars moved inside the BCA 30-yard line but once again failed on fourth down.
With just 1:43 left and Piedmont down to one time out, it appeared the Knights would be able to run out the clock. However, with 6.1 seconds left and faced with a fourth and 15, BCA lined up and had a player throw a pass attempt to try and let the final seconds run off the clock. When the football touched the ground, however, the clock stopped on a change of possession with Cougars at the BCA 20-yard line.
A last attempt to get in the end zone failed however and the host Knights had earned perhaps the biggest win in the program’s short history.
To start the game, Piedmont put together an impressive drive beginning at its own 31. Brady connected with McClain on one key pass attempt and converted a fourth five on a run. The Cougars eventually had a first and goal from the six when a fumble ended the drive.
The ensuing possessions in the first half for Piedmont ended on a failed fourth down attempt, a punt and a touchdown.
“The effort was there,” Tanner said of the season opener. “I never felt there was a lack of effort. We are just young on the offensive line and even have some skilled players who have played very little varsity football. It will be a weekly improvement for us. A key for us will be how much we improve from week to week.”
BCA coach Lance Fendley said the victory was a major accomplishment for his program.
“I thought our defense played lights out,” the Knights coach said. “Piedmont’s Mack Brady is one of the best quarterbacks in the GISA. When all is said and done, Piedmont is going to be a playoff team again and make some noise once the playoffs begin.”
While disappointed by the loss, the Cougars will look to rebound this Friday when Piedmont plays its 2016 home opener against Loganville Christian Academy. The game will once again be at 8 p.m.
Loganville Christian is a member of Region 1-AAA, similar to BCA, last week’s opponent for the Cougars.
“They are always going to be super athletic,” Tanner said of this week’s foe. “They have very good skill players they will put in and try to take over a game. We will have to control their perimeter threats.”
Players of the Week
•Offense: Park Clark
•Defense: Ben Smith
STATS vs. BCA
•Mack Brady, 7 carries for 29 yards, 8-of-26 passing, 172 yards, 1 TD
•Wyatt Galloway, five carries for 15 yards
•Logan Conner, seven carries for 15 yards
•Owen Brady, 1 carry for three yards
•Chris McClain, 4 catches for 72yards, 1 touchdown
•Michael Edwards, 3 catches for 56 yards
•J.T. Webb, 1 catch for 44 yards