Cougars Fall in State Title Game

Two quality football teams went toe-to-toe for 48 minutes Saturday afternoon, but in the end, it was Memorial Day who was able to hold on for a 42-35 win against Piedmont Academy for the GISA Class AA title.

The teams went back-and-forth the entire game and it wasn’t until the final two minutes that the outcome was determined. The game was played at Mercer University’s football complex in Macon.

“It’s tough, but I can say I am very proud of everyone associated with this team,” Cougar coach Wes Tanner said. “You never want to get to this point and not win it all, but we had our chances and just came up a little short. It will take some time to reflect on this, but our players will understand eventually what a special season we had.”

Piedmont led 21-20 at halftime and took the second half’s opening possession and scored again. The drive was set up by a return to the Memorial Day 18-yard line by Hank Strickland. Three plays later, Hunter Knox found the end zone on a five-yard run with 10:17 left in the third. Chase Young’s point after kick gave the Cougars a 28-20 lead.

At this point, Tanner said he believed if his team could have gotten a defensive stop and scored again, the outcome might have been different.

The Blue Thunder from Savannah answered quickly, however, perhaps feeling a sense of urgency to keep the game close. Memorial Day’s Miacah Cooper raced 68 yards for a score to cap a drive, which lasted just two plays. McKinley Habersham, who would be a thorn in Piedmont’s side all game, added a two-point conversion to tie the game.

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After forcing Piedmont to go three-and-out, the Blue Thunder regained the lead on a 24-yard run by Habersham with 7:28 still remaining in the third quarter. Memorial Day tried another two-point conversion but a tackle by Ben Davis stopped the play.

The Cougars then mounted a 16-play drive which covered 51 yards.

Knox played quarterback on the series, which was kept alive on a successful fake punt. Chris McClain completed a pass to Michael Edwards on a fourth and six from the Blue Thunder 47-yard line.

Piedmont later converted another fourth down play on a pass to Hank Strickland. Knox capped the drive with a one-yard run with 11:57 remaining. Young’s extra point gave the Cougars a 35-34 lead.

A 63-yard kickoff return by Memorial Day gave the momentum back to the Blue Thunder as they used a 25-yard pass to Irvin Riley for another score. The two-point conversion attempt was successful this time on a run by Habersham.

Piedmont’s next series was stopped by a fumble but the Cougars would get another attempt after forcing a Memorial Day punt. The Cougars began at their own 38 and moved to the Blue Thunder 26-yard line with 1:34 left. An unsuccessful attempt to convert a fourth and 15, however, gave the football back to Memorial Day who was able to run out the remaining time.

The championship game lived up to its billing. The teams were evenly matched and both relied on the run game.

Memorial Day took a 7-0 lead after scoring on the game’s opening possession. The drive began at the Blue Thunder’s 35-yard line and consumed almost five minutes on 12 plays. Habersham capped the drive on a two-yard run.

Piedmont would answer on its first series moving 64 yards on seven plays. Jeremiah Dave fought in from three yards out on first and goal with 4:40 left in the first quarter.

The ensuing drive saw Memorial Day use a 63-yard kickoff return to set up at the Cougar 27. Habersham scored on a three-yard run for a 14-7 advantage for his team.

Piedmont fumbled on its next possession but the Cougar defense would then get a big stop on fourth and six. Memorial Day had previously converted a fourth and 13 on the drive, but then turned it over at the Piedmont 14-yard line. Gaven Edge had a key sack on the series for the Cougar defense.

Knox was then put in at quarterback and he capped a 76-yard drive with a 48-yard pass to Edwards for Piedmont’s second score of the first half.

Memorial Day continued to be effective on offense and moved 80 yards following a touchback by Young. Habersham covered the final 15 yards but the point after attempt failed.

That allowed Piedmont to answer with a one-yard run by Zach Beggs with 20 seconds left in the half. The third scoring drive of the first half for the Cougars covered 70 yards and took nine plays.

Edwards intercepted a pass on the first play for the Blue Thunder following Piedmont’s score. A last pass deep down field was just missed for another score by the Cougars as the first half ended.

“It was a special season,” Tanner said. “We played really hard. It doesn’t mean we played perfect. We had more chances to score more points. We had a long pass right before halftime that was almost a touchdown. We also had two fumbles and gave up two long kickoff returns. I think if we played them 10 times, the score would turn out similar in each one. This is a special group of players that I began coaching when they were in the sixth grade.”

NOTES: It was the first time this season Piedmont played on field turf, which is becoming more common on college fields. The surface typically benefits teams with speed and quickness.

Piedmont senior Jeremiah Dave has been selected to play in the upcoming GISA All-Star football game. Dave will travel back to Mercer University this Saturday for the contest at noon. He was the lone Cougar selected. Piedmont’s Wes Tanner will help coach in the game.

Piedmont likely would have had more players selected, but Coach Tanner said some of his seniors had previously told him they wanted the state championship game to be their last contest and did not want to be considered for any All-Star games.

Dave has also been selected for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes All-Star football game, to be played Dec. 19 at Clarke Central High School in Athens.

The senior will be on Coach Scott Wilkins “Blue Team” and has been listed as a linebacker. Dave played linebacker and fullback this season for the Cougars.

Coaches from approximately two dozen schools selected the players for the FCA All-Star game.

Tanner also wanted to express the support and prayers of the entire Piedmont Academy school and athletic department for the family of Hunter Knox. On Saturday, members of his family were involved in an automobile accident while on their way to the game in Macon.

Piedmont Academy has won two state football championships in program history (2010 and 2011). The Cougars have also finished as runner-up in 1973, 1981, 1987, 1988, 1993 and 2014.

The football program has also won 16 region championships (the first being in 1973 and the most recent in 2014). There have been six undefeated regular seasons (1973, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1988, 2010 and 2011.)

Players of the Week:

•2014 seniors: Chase Young, Seth Wiles, Jeremiah Dave, Zach Beggs, Hank Strickland, Hunter Knox, Gaven Edge, Payden Cantera, Michael Davis, Hunter Burson and Hunter Pope.