Cougars Post Big Win on the Road

Despite having to replace several starters for the 2015 season, the Piedmont Academy football team may slowly be getting its footing as the Cougars are now 2-1 going into their much anticipated home opener this week.

Piedmont dispatched of an overmatched Griffin Christian squad 57-0 on the road last Friday and is beginning to show signs of improvement that coach Wes Tanner had hoped for prior to the start of the campaign.

“I think we are starting to figure some things out,” said Tanner, whose team led by a commanding 50-0 at halftime. “We are getting our personnel in the right place. We knew we needed to work on getting players in the right spots and also knew it would take some time to sort it all out. We are getting more comfortable where we are playing.”

Several players are beginning to take leadership roles for the Cougars as well.

“It’s actually some of our veterans who are taking ownership of the team,” Tanner said. “They realize they have to take the bull by the horns if they want to have the season go the way we want it to go. It’s necessary for them to step up even if they are not necessarily comfortable doing so.”

The coach said he was pleased with all phases of his team’s performance last week including offensively, defensively and on special teams. Caitlyn Young, featured in last week’s edition as the team’s first varsity female football player, successfully kicked her first extra point attempt and finished the night 7-of-8. She teams with center Nolan Cleary and holder Michael Edwards on the point after tries.

Tanner said Young’s performance should help her confidence moving forward.

It was complete domination for the Piedmont defense against Griffin Christian as well.

Offensively, Ben Davis rushed for 125 yards on just five carries with three touchdowns while Noah Quick added 87 yards on 11 attempts. Mack Brady was 6-of-6 through the air for 214 yards. Chris McClain had three catches for 96 yards and an 80-yard kickoff return for a core. Chandler Burrell had two receptions for 75 yards.

Edwards also returned a kickoff 60 yards for a score.

Piedmont scored 22 points in the first quarter and added 28 more in the game’s second 12 minutes. Tanner was able to get all team members valuable game experience last Friday.

Up next for the Cougars will be Monsignor Donovan, a program which has struggled in 2015 after enjoying a high level of success a season ago. The Rams, which faced Piedmont in the semifinals in 2014, enter this week’s contest 0-3 with a new head coach having been outscored 160-7 in matchups against Loganville Christian, Gatewood and Holy Spirit.

Regardless of the outcome of those contests, Tanner said his team needs to focus on itself and improving overall.

“We really need to concentrate on what we are doing and what we need to be doing,” the coach said.

This Friday will also see the long-awaited home debut in 2015 for the Cougars.

“It will be nice to be at home finally,” Tanner said. “We feel like a major league baseball team that has been on the road for two weeks.”

While Piedmont is favored on paper this week, the team’s coach said the Cougars will not be looking ahead with a showdown with undefeated John Milledge Academy looming.

“We still need to concentrate on getting better,” Tanner said. “We are still not to the point where we can overlook any opponent, regardless of what they have done in previous games.”

Tanner gave the team off Monday and the Cougars returned to work Tuesday in preparation for Monsignor Donovan. Kickoff tomorrow at Cougar Field is set for 7:30 p.m.

Players Of The Week

vs. Griffin Christian

•Offense: Chandler Burrell

•Defense: Mikey Weatherly

•Special Teams: Caitlyn Young