Cougars Advance To Quarterfinals

Piedmont Academy’s football team lived to play another day last Friday.

The Cougars earned a 38-0 win against Trinity Christian School-Dublin in a play-in game of the GIAA Class AA state playoffs.

It was the second win of the season for Piedmont against the Crusaders as the two teams faced off way back in the 2023 season opener.

Last Friday saw the Cougars play one of their better games of the season jumping out to a 28-0 lead at halftime. Piedmont added 10 more points in the second round to advance to the state quarterfinals this week against top-seeded Edmund Burke.

“It was good to get a win,” coach Clint Satterfield said. “We really needed it.”

It was a solid effort overall for Satterfield’s team. Hunter Cleveland had a strong game at quarterback passing for 165 yards and two touchdowns.

Mason Tumlin rushed for 194 yards and two scores on 29 carries.

Camden Moss, Adarius Fuller, Kouper Burrell and Hunter Thomson also contributed to the ground game.

Cleveland spread the wealth in the passing game connecting with Keith Hasker, Tumlin, Thomson, Jack Adams and Corbett Crews each having receptions.

Ridge Stroud had a solid performance on the offensive line.

Silas Cowan helped lead a strong defensive effort with 10 total tackles (three solo, seven assists.) Kaden Elkins had four solo and two assists while Jacob Diamond recorded two solo, one assist and one quarterback sack.

Also contributing defensively were Adarius Fuller (two solo), Braxton Floyd (one solo, two assists), Daniel Joseph (three solo), Owen Piedra (two solo, fumble recovery), Ty McVey (two assists), Crews (one solo), Trenton Jones (two assists) and Burrell (one solo).

Wyatt Joyner also had a fumble recovery and Elkins forced a fumble.

Mark Myles once again led the special teams. The senior averaged 46.9 yards on kickoffs and was 5-of-5 on point-after kicks in addition to a 42-yard field goal.

Next up will be a quarterfinal contest with Edmund Burke this Friday in Waynesboro.

The two teams met back on Sept. 15 with the Spartans taking a 21-0 win.

Edmund Burke enters the game 9-1 and was undefeated until the last week of the regular season.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.