Piedmont Flag Football Team Enjoys Success
Piedmont Academy has added another sport to its ranks.
The GIAA added girls varsity flag football for the 2022-23 school year and the Lady Cougars are already enjoying success on the field.
This season began right before the end of softball and will end Nov. 19,
“The girls heard about it and came to me and really were excited about the chance to play,” said coach Michael Wilson. “The school decided we could start after softball and do it and I think it’s great. It gives these girls a chance to go out and just play. I know we ask a lot out of them during softball and basketball season and I believe giving them the chance to go and just compete with no expectations or pressure is something that will help build some chemistry and build more enthusiasm in them as a group.”
Many players are currently playing two sports as basketball practice has also begun.
“The willingness to do this and also practice basketball speaks volumes to them as a group,’ Wilson said. “It shows they like being around each other, they like competing and they don’t mind working to get better at what they do.
All the girls play either softball or basketball so we were not able to start practice until two days before the first game and with basketball practice starting on Oct. 31, they agreed to practice football and basketball and that kind of energy and work ethic shows how much they want to compete and why this group has been so success the last few years.”
With very little practice Piedmont traveled to Savannah to play St. Andrew’s School for the program’s first two games and won 32-6 and 19-6.
Marissa Holder threw five touchdowns in the games and ran for two more. She threw for more than 400 yards in the two games and ran for another 75 yards. Jacie Jenkins caught 10 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns.
Kylee Keck had three touchdown receptions. Emily Whitwell, Bailey Mobley, Abby Arnold, and Breck Piedra each had catches in the game as well.
Defensively, Piedmont was led by Holder with 15 tackles, three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. Teagan Satterfield had 11 tackles and an interception in the two games and Jenkins had five quarterback sacks.
Lanie Buice, Teagan Hinson, and Kami Gibby all had pass break-ups on defense. Haiden Crews put pressure on their quarterback all night which helped our defense create turnovers and keep them from scoring.
It has also been a learning experience for Wilson as he said he does not know what to expect from any of the teams Piedmont will play,
“However, I am confident that we can compete with anyone we play,” the coach said. ” I am excited for this group to go out and compete for another championship and hopefully we can end up at Strong Rock on Nov. 19 with a chance to do just that.”
Piedmont continued to enjoy success last week defeating St. Andrews 27-6 and Mount de Sales 31-14.
In the win against St. Andrews, Holder had a 4-yard scoring run. Jenkins threw a 17-year pass to Whitwell before Holder connected with Kylee Keck on a 2-yard pass. Satterfield also had a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown in the game’s second half.
Holder connected on five touchdown passes against Mount de Sales including ones to Whitwell, Keck and Breck Piedra (three times).
In JV action, Sarah Ellen Stroud ran for a touchdown and threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Kolbee Osborne. Landry Hull had two catches and Skylar Reagin had an interception.