Cougars Win Home Opener
What a difference a week makes.
The Piedmont Academy football team rebounded from a disappointing loss in its August 12 opener to defeat visiting Loganville Christian Academy 26-12 in the 2016 home opener last Friday. The Cougars are now 1-1 and will return to the field this Friday against John Milledge Academy at home.
“It was a big win and one we needed,” said coach Wes Tanner.
Piedmont’s coach said the keys to victory last week were having a simplified game plan as well as improvement on the offensive line.
Clearing the way for a big rushing night were left tackle Parker Clark, left guard Brett Bush, center Jay Sheets, right guard Dalton Whitley, right tackle Ben Smith and tight end J.T. Webb.
“We came out and decided we weren’t going to play timid,” Tanner said of his team’s victory.
It was a huge night for Piedmont’s Mack Brady, who scored all four of his team’s touchdowns. Brady put the Cougars in front in the first quarter on a 3-yard run and then reached the endzone again in the third quarter on a 45-yard effort.
Brady added two more scores in the third quarter on plays of 60 and 36 yards. Tanner said it was Brady’s best rushing performance of his varsity career. The offense didn’t throw the football many times, but Tanner noted the Cougars didn’t have to.
The game was close throughout and it wasn’t until Brady’s final score that Piedmont got some breathing room. There was no scoring by either team in the fourth quarter.
The Cougars led 7-6 at halftime and then moved in front 14-6 in the third quarter before Loganville Christian pulled to within two points on a 60-yard kickoff return. The two-point attempt by the Lions after that score failed leaving Piedmont in front 14-12.
Piedmont compiled 315 yards of offense, 300 of which were on the ground. The Cougar defense meanwhile limited LCA to 175 total yards (114 through the air and 61 on the ground.)
Brady finished with an impressive 289 yards on 21 attempts with his longest run covering 60 yards. Wyatt Galloway added 32 yards on 12 attempts.
Logan Conner caught two passes for 15 yards.
Defensively, Ben Smith led the team with six tackles, three assists and one tackle for loss. Tate Marks added three tackles and an assist while Conner had two tackles and seven assists. Galloway helped on the defensive side of the football with two tackles, an assist and tackle for loss.
Owen Brady finished with two tackles and three assists with Tyler Mills making one tackle and three assists and an interception.
The game had a weather delay for approximately 45 minutes after it started.
This Friday’s game against John Milledge will be the third in as many weeks against a Class AAA opponent for the Cougars, who compete at the AA level in the GISA. The Trojans enter the game 2-0 after victories against Pinewood and Trinity Christian-Dublin.
Now in his sixth season coaching the Trojans, J.T. Wall has compiled an impressive 54-11 record including a 12-win season in 2012 and 11-win campaigns in 2014 and 2015.
“They are very talented in the skill positions,” Tanner said. “They are multiple on offense and run the spread at times.”
The keys to earning a win for the Cougars, their coach said, will include a sound defensive effort and continuing to improve on the offensive line.
STATISTICS
vs. Loganville Christian
OFFENSE
•Brady: 21 carries for 289 yards, 4 TDs; 2-of-4 passing 15 yards
•Galloway: 12 carries for 32 yards
•Brady: 1 carry for 11 yards
•Conner: 2 catches for 15 yards
DEFENSE
•Smith: 6 tackles, 3 assists
•Marks: 3 tackles, 1 assist
• Galloway: 2 tackles, 1 assist
•Conner: 2 tackles, 7 assists
•Brady: 2 tackles, 3 assists
•Clark: 1 tackle, 1 assist
•Mills: 1 tackle, 3 assists, 1 Int.
•J.T. Webb: 1 tackle
•Michael Edwards: 1 tackle
SPECIAL TEAMS
•Brady: 3 punts for 41-yard average
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Offense: Wyatt Galloway
Defense: Tyler Mills
Special Teams: Jay Sheets