Many Cougars Have Standout Season

While the team did not earn the number of overall wins it had hoped, the 2016 football season still saw several Piedmont Academy football players have standout campaigns in terms of individual stats.

Senior Mack Brady led the team with 784 yards passing (61-of-121) and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 761 yards on 119 carries and eight touchdowns with no fumbles.

Michael Edwards was the team’s leading receiver with 33 catches for 350 yards and three scores J.T. Webb hauled in 10 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns.

Chris McClain also passed for 350 yards and five touchdowns.

Defensively, Ben Smith had 96 total tackles and two forced fumbles. Logan Conner had 80 total stops while Wyatt Galloway finished the season with 46 overall tackles. Other defensive standouts included Webb (38 total tackles), Dalton Whitley (30), Parker Clark (25), Edwards (25 total tackles, two interceptions), Tyler Mills (24) and Owen Brady (21).

On special teams, Caitlyn Young made 12 extra-point kicks and one field goal. Ezra King kicked one extra point.

Edwards compiled 231 yards on kickoff returns while Mack Brady had 117 punt return yards.

The Cougars missed on qualifying for the playoffs after tiebreaker scenarios were used.

Despite the individual stats, wins were elusive.

“It was one of those seasons where nothing went our way,” said coach Wes Tanner. “We had to battle through a lot of injuries and the breaks during games never went our way. It seems if it could go wrong, it went wrong.”

The Piedmont coach said thoughts have already turned to the 2017 season where returning players will work to make it back to the postseason and back to the top of the region standings.