Varsity Cougars to Begin 2018-2019 Season This Friday

The Mike Parris era will officially begin for Piedmont Academy football this week.

After weeks of preparation, the Cougars will kick off the 2018 season when they host Monsignor Donovan of Athens at 8 p.m. Piedmont players and coaches entered game week preparations Monday.

“We have to be able to run the football better,” said Parris whose team played in a preseason scrimmage last week. “We need to get on our blocks better and stay on them. In the scrimmage we tried to get to the second level too quickly.”

Defensively a key for Piedmont this week will be to control Monsignor Donovan’s quarterback, whom Parris described as “very athletic.”

“He is more of a running threat but he will throw it some as well,” the coach said.

In last week’s scrimmage against Pinecrest Academy, Parris said his team performed well in several areas.

“We had a good scrimmage,” the coach said. “We played a team that is pretty good. We played well and accomplished everything we set out to do. The main thing was we didn’t get anyone hurt. The mistakes we made are correctable.”

The final outcome will count this week so Parris said it will take a complete effort in all areas.

Piedmont will be led this season by seniors J.T. Webb, Logan Conner, Caleb Faircloth and Matthew Griffin. Webb plays tight end and linebacker with Conner at running back and linebacker and Faircloth at wide receiver and defensive back. Griffin will help anchor the offensive line as well as play linebacker on defense.

Juniors include Dylan Coe (quarterback, defensive back), Tate Marks (quarterback, free safety), Payton Wallace (wide receiver, defensive back), Trent Coots (running back, outside linebacker), Mason Mize (wide receiver, defensive back), Eric Tobler (offensive line, defensive line), Jacob Ferguson (tight end, defensive end), Owen Brady (running back, linebacker), Gray Morgan (offensive line, defensive line) and Garrett Kirksey (offensive line, defensive line).

Sophomores for the 2018 team include Tanner Locklear (wide receiver, defensive back), Banks Benton (wide receiver, defensive back), Cody Brimberry (offensive line, defensive line) and Jakobe Tremblay (offensive line, defensive line).

Freshmen Ryan Holder (wide receiver, defensive back) John Reasoner (wide receiver, defensive back), Ryan Reeves (offensive line, defensive line), Mark Hicks (offensive line, defensive line) and Jake Richards (offensive line, defensive line) will also contribute this season.

Parris is assisted by Clint Ashmore (offensive coordinator), Will Johnson (offensive and defensive lines) and Bo Brown (wide receivers and outside linebackers.) Parris will coordinate the defense.

“The kids are excited about the new season,” Parris said. “Their head coach is excited too. It’s great to be back in the game. We just need to have a good week of practice and get things started in a positive manner.”