Cougars Win 38-20 in Region

Seemingly rejuvenated by its bye week, the Piedmont Academy football played perhaps its best game of the 2016 season last Friday with a 38-20 victory against Windsor Academy in the region opener for both schools.

The Çougars used an old-fashioned power running game to pound the visiting Knights into submission. The win also puts Piedmont on a sound road for another possible region title.

“It was huge to get the first region victory,” said coach Wes Tanner. “We have been able to establish some momentum and that was needed as we now have to go on the road twice for our next two region games. Hopefully the win Friday will get everyone excited about the direction we are going.”

With Chris McClain directing the offense at quarterback, the running combination of Mack Brady, Wyatt Galloway, Owen Brady and Logan Conner was simply too much for Windsor to stop. While the Knights had some offensive success in the first half, Windsor was not able to add any points in either the third or fourth quarters.

Leading 20-17 late in the second quarter, the Windsor Knights had a chance for more points just before halftime but mismanaged the clock after having the football first and goal at the Piedmont 3-yard line with 11.6 seconds left.

A bad snap resulted in Windsor’s quarterback scrambling with the football and the clock ran out while he was tackled by several Cougar defenders. Knights coach Jimmy Fields protested that the whistle should have been blown earlier with time still on the clock, but the Piedmont players and coaches were already on their way to the locker room and the officials did not restore any time back on the clock.

In the second half, Tanner’s team took the first possession and marched 51 yards in five plays for a touchdown on a 28-yard run by McClain. The drive was set up by a kickoff return by Mack Brady. Caitlyn Young’s extra-point kick gave the Cougars a 24-20 lead, their first of the game.

Windsor began piecing together a drive on its first series of the second half when Michael Edwards intercepted a pass.

Piedmont’s offense then took over at its own 22-yard line and promptly marched 78 yards in 11 plays as McClain connected with Tyler Mills on a 36-yard scoring strike. Young’s extra-point increased the lead to 31-20 with 1:26 remaining in the third quarter.

Edwards would then intercept another pass to stop Windsor’s second drive of the third quarter. The Knights had scored on a 32-yard touchdown pass but the play was called back on a holding penalty which proved costly.

Piedmont’s offense, playing behind the offensive line of Parker Clark, Brett Bush, Jay Sheets, Jaron Autry, Ben Smith and J.T Webb put together a 75-yard scoring drive to seal the win on a 32-yard run by Mack Brady. Ezra King added this extra point for what turned out to be a 38-20 final.

The game started in less than positive fashion for the Cougars as Windsor returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown just 18 seconds into the game. The Knights went for, and made, a two-point conversion for a quick 8-0 advantage.

Piedmont answered with one its most effect drives of the 2016 season as the offense moved 64 yards in 14 plays, all on the ground. Galloway earned the final yard as the Cougars pulled to within 8-7 after Young’s kick.

After the teams traded punts, Windsor regained the lead on a 37-yard run with 10:51 left in the first half. The two-point conversion attempt failed this time to leave the score at 14-7.

Piedmont then had another impressive drive moving 65 yards in 16 methodical plays with Conner fighting in from a yard out with 2:44 left before halftime.

There were several key plays during the drive including fourth and one conversion from the Windsor 3-yard line by McClain.

Windsor continued to have big plays in the first half as the Knights added a 78-yard touchdown run with 1:10 left in the second quarter to retake a 20-14 lead.

The Piedmont offense, however, added a 24-yard field goal by Young. The drive was set up by an Edwards’ return to the Knight 37-yard line. Dalton Whitley then connected with McClain on a pass to the 18 before completing another pass to McClain to the 5-yard line.

Eventually faced with fourth and goal from the 5, Tanner opted for the field goal attempt and Young came through in what was one of her better special teams performances.

Perhaps the turning point in the game came on the ensuing kickoff. After the field goal by Piedmont with 27 seconds left before halftime, Windsor was aided by a 15-yard penalty on the Cougars during the kickoff. One play later and the Knights were at the Piedmont 3-yard line with time for more points.

However, the final play used the remaining time and Windsor was turned away with no points. That turn of events seemed to stun the Knights who never recovered offensively in the second half after some Piedmont defensive adjustments.

“That sequence gave us some momentum,” Tanner said. “ We scored last in the first half and then got the football first in the second half and scored again. It didn’t seem like Windsor was able to recover from that turn of events.”

McClain finished as the team’s leading rusher with 92 yards followed by Mack Brady with 92. Conner added 42 yards on the ground while Galloway rushed for 23 and Owen Brady totaled 22.

McClain had two catches for 32 yards while Mills had one for 36.

Defensively, Ben Smith had three tackles and five assists while Mills had three tackles. Owen Brady and Edwards both had two tackles while Galloway had one tackle with three assists.

In addition, McClain was 3-of-6 through the air for 63 yards and a score. Whitley finished 2-of-3 for 32 yards.

Leading the way was the performance of the offensive line, which Tanner said had its “best effort of the season.”

Piedmont will now look for its second region win of the season when it ventures to Bethlehem Temple this Friday. The Wildcats are 4-4 overall and 1-0 in region play after falling to Flint River Academy 27-12 last week.

“Bethlehem Temple is much improved,” Tanner said. “The reason they have been in games is because they have forced turnovers. They make a big play and then turn around find a way to force a turnover. If we can execute a game plan, we feel good about our chances, but we’ve only really done it once.”

Players of the Week

Offense

Chris McClain, Mack Brady, Owen Brady, Logan Conner, Wyatt Galloway

Defense

Michael Edwards

Special Teams

Caitlyn Young