Cougars Open Season Friday at Home
After months of offseason preparation, the 2023 season is now at hand for the Piedmont Academy football team.
The Cougars will open the new season Friday at home against Trinity Christian School-Dublin. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
Piedmont will look to start the new campaign on the right foot, something that has not been exactly easy for the program during the past decade. Going back to 2013, the Cougars are 3-6-1 in openers.
For coach Clint Satterfield, entering his third season directing the program, there is some cause for optimism but there are several tough challenges on the 2023 schedule.
Senior Ridge Stroud is a preseason All-Star candidate. Stroud has been a starter on the varsity level since his freshman year.
There will be some inexperience in certain spots, especially at quarterback.
The team had a chance to work out some preseason issues last Friday in a scrimmage against New Faith Christian.
“I was pleased with our defensive effort,” Satterfield said. “We got to play our starters for a quarter and a half. Offensively, we are still looking to get our quarterback play improved and where we need it to be. The good thing is everybody got a chance to play (in the scrimmage) and that will help.”
Players on the 2023 roster, in addition to Stroud, include Keith Hasker, Mason Tumlin, Cameron Anglin, Jacob Diamond, Scott Swann, Camden Moss, Braxton Flyd, Adarius Fuller, Bryson Dudley, Weston Webb, Kohen Burell, Daniel Joseph, Mark Myles and Kouper Burrell.
Also Owen Piedra, Silas Cowan, Hunter Cleveland, Kaden Elkins, Tucker Sutton, Hunter Thomson, Jack Adams, Jacob Betts, Landon Cain, Ty McVey, Aaron Smith, Chase McClung, Michael Burke, Wyatt Joyner, Nash Thompson, Christian KenKnight, Trenton Jones and Corbett Crews.
Piedmont was 4-8 in 2022. The Cougars fell to Trinity 41-40 in last year’s season opener before earning a 33-14 win in the opening round of the state playoffs.
“We felt like we let one get away in the opener last year down there,” Satterfield said. “It will be a similar game this year. The two schools are very similar when it comes to football. I believe we match up well with them on the lines of scrimmage. The key for us will be to play solid defense and run the football effectively.”