Piedmont Cougars Begin Football Practice

After several weeks of uncertainty and questions about whether there would even be a football season this fall, the Piedmont Academy gridiron Cougars returned to work on Monday.

Coach Will Johnson said Tuesday night it was good to be back to some sense of normalcy.

“It’s good to see the players again and get started with our summer workouts,” the coach said. “We are fortunate that we were able to begin June 1. Schools in the GHSA can’t start until June 8.”

Piedmont is a member of the GISA and schools are allowed to set their own summer schedules.

The Cougars are working out from 9 a.m. until noon each day this week. A group of nine players or less will be in the weight room while others are on the practice field. The groups, divided into positions such as skill players and linemen, then rotate their workout.

With the football field providing more open space than the weight room the numbers are not as limited.

“We are going a little longer than we did last year at this time,” Johnson said. “Two weeks in June we will work Monday through Friday with the other two weeks being Monday through Thursday.”

Johnson and defensive coordinator Matt Britt are organizing practice sessions to stay within all safety guidelines concerning COVID-19 which caused the unprecedented cancellation of spring sports.

With the new season set to begin in August, Coach Johnson said all indications are the 2020 campaign will be played in full.

“There has been no word of postponing the season or not playing a full schedule,” Johnson said.

Piedmont advanced to the GISA Class A state title game in 2019. This is Johnson’s second season as head coach.

The Cougars open the new season August 28 at Central Christian followed by road games at Rock Springs (Sept. 4) and Memorial Day (Sept. 11.)

The home opener will be September 18 against Robert Toombs followed by an open date. The Cougars then travel to Creekside on October 2 before hosting Thomas Jefferson the following week in a rematch of the 2019 state title game.

The game with Thomas Jefferson is a rematch of last season’s state championship contest won by the Jaguars.

Piedmont hosts Augusta Prep on October 16. Road games at Brentwood and Gatewood following before the regular season finale at home against Monsignor Donovan.

Brentwood, Gatewood and Monsignor Donovan are region opponents for 2020.