Cougars Fall to Brentwood
A tough season came to an end for the Piedmont Academy football team in the opening round of the GISA Class AA playoffs last Friday.
The Cougars fell 43-7 on the road in Sandersville to the Brentwood Eagles. It was the second matchup between the schools in 2017 and had almost similar scores (Brentwood won 41-7 in the regular season matchup) and the same outcome.
Parker Clark scored the team’s lone touchdown on a 56-yard fumble recovery. Ezra King added the point after attempt.
“We ran into one of the hottest teams in AA,” said Piedmont coach Wes Tanner. “They are just so well coached. I believe they are going to contend and perhaps win the whole thing. We were just the first opponent in their path.”
While Tanner knows many will judge the 2017 Cougars by their 1-10 overall record, the coach does not.
“This team will be judged by their heart, character and dignity,” the coach said. “Our players showed that every week. To continue to work hard and compete when you don’t have a lot of success says a great deal about this team.”
In other first round GISA AA playoff matchups Memorial Day defeated Westwood, Thomas Jefferson advanced by Unity Prep and Terrell Academy advanced past First Presbyterian Christian.
Quarterfinal matchups will include Memorial Day at Flint River, Brentwood at Southwest Georgia, Thomas Jefferson at Robert Toombs and Terrell at Briarwood.
“It was a tough season but there are a lot of positives we can take from it,” said Piedmont defensive coordinator Michael Wilson. “Our senior class had a never give up attitude, especially Tanner Coppock. He’s been with us for four years and the improvement and growth he shown over that time, and especially this season, is ultimately what it’s about at this level. He’s a player who worked hard and in the end stepped up and showed our younger kids how much he really cared about wearing a Piedmont uniform.”
Wilson also noted that senior Talon Anlin fought back from an ACL injury last season.
“He didn’t want to look back and regret not playing,” Wilson said. “Also, Brett Bush and Parker Clark are examples of fighting to the end and growing up as young men in the process. Noah Faubli, even in his first season with us, meant so much to us just by his desire to be on the field.”
The players did not want the season to end, their coaches said, which made them proud.
“It makes you proud to be a small part of their life and makes me proud to be part of a school like Piedmont and to send my kids there,” Wilson said.
Piedmont will return seven defensive starters for 2018 and coaches said it will be key to get them into the weight room to get “bigger and stronger.”
The GISA will have reclassification for the 2018 season which means Piedmont’s classification setup and region alignment will likely have new teams. Tanner said the schedule will be adjusted to give the team a better chance to be competitive. The Cougars had to face some of the top AAA teams this season.
Players of the Week
Overall: Parker Clark
Offense: Logan Conner
Defense: Brett Bush
Special Teams: Cameron Mobley