Cougars Lose to Monsignor Donovan

In many ways it was a typical first game of the season for the Piedmont Academy football team.

First-year head coach Will Johnson said there were some positives but also some areas which will need improvement as the team continues through the 2019 season. The 40-28 loss at Monsignor Donovan in Athens last Friday was a game in which victory was within reach but in the end did not materialize.

“I think not playing our first game against John Hancock really hurt us,” Johnson said. “We didn’t have those issues normally associated with the first regular season game behind us.”

One example was numerous procedure penalties against the Cougars, several of which occurred in the first half.

“When you play a team as athletic as Monsignor Donovan at their place you can’t make those mistakes,” Johnson said. “You go from having a second and five or second or six to second and 10 or 11.”

Despite those miscues the Cougars led 21-16 in the first half and were driving for another score.

“Also with it being our first real game we saw how different it is from a scrimmage,” Johnson said. “Many of our players never came off the field and eventually you get worn down. In the end we still had the opportunity to win. It wasn’t so much what they did but that we hurt ourselves in areas.”

The new coach said it is typical for teams to improve the most from game one of a season to game two. Johnson said he hopes that will be the case for Piedmont.

“I think we are close to having something special,” he said.

Trent Coots was one of the standouts for the Cougars against Monsignor Donovan. He finished with 80 total yards of offense and also blocked a punt on special teams.

Tate Marks scored two touchdowns and accounted for approximately 140 yards of offense playing quarterback, wide receiver and running back.

Payton Wallace and Owen Brady also contributed offensively with Brady scoring a touchdown.

Quarterback Chris Pittman started his first game for the Cougars. His coach said he handled the pressure of the situation well.

Defensively Eric Tobler made 11 tackles from his linebacker position while Tanner Locklear and Wallace played well in the defensive secondary.

On special teams Marks was 4-for-4 on extra-point kicks. Johnson said overall the special teams unit played well compiling good return yardage and for the most part limiting its opponent on returns.

Piedmont will play its first home game of 2019 this Friday against Thomas Jefferson. After playing an away scrimmage, traveling to Sparta for a regular season game that was cancelled and venturing to Athens last Friday the Cougars are eager to be on familiar ground.

“We had a ton of support last week in Athens,” Johnson said. “I know it will be that way this week when we finally are at home.”

Thomas Jefferson runs a triple option offense using a Wing-T formation. Assignment football will be the key defensively for the Cougars.

“We have to line up properly because one simple mistake can cost you against this type of offense,” Johnson said.

The defense will also hope to benefit from turnovers, something that is common running an option-based attack. Thomas Jefferson, coached by Terence Hennessey, defeated John Hancock 35-22 last week.

“We have to stop the run because possessions are going to be limited in this game,” Johnson said. “We can’t have sloppy mistakes. Normally you might have eight or nine possessions but in a game like this that number can be cut in half.”

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Cougar Field.