Cougars Play for State Championship
Piedmont Academy’s football team is now one step away from its ultimate goal for the 2014 season.
The Cougars defeated visiting Monsignor Donovan 38-27 last Friday and are now preparing for the GISA Class AA state title game against Memorial Day. The championship contest will be played at Mercer University in Macon this Saturday, Nov. 29, at 3 p.m.
“What a great job by this team,” said Piedmont coach Wes Tanner. “We will be practicing on Thanksgiving day, but I don’t think the players or their parents will mind. We did a great job executing and now have a chance to play for it all.”
Memorial Day defeated Georgia Christian 21-14 in the other semifinal contest and the Matadors, like the Cougars, are now preparing to play for the state championship trophy.
Last Friday’s win for Piedmont followed a pattern similar to other victories this fall. The Cougars used a solid ground game, throwing only one pass the entire contest, and came through with defensive stops when they had to in order to keep Monsignor Donovan in check.
Leading 21-14 at halftime, Piedmont took the second half kickoff and marched 33 yards in 10 plays capped by a 19-yard scoring strike from Zach Beggs to Hank Strickland with 7:40 remaining in the third quarter.
The Rams would answer, however, with a 52-yard drive in just two plays. Garrison Harris found the end zone after a 30-yard run with 7:04 still remaining in the quarter. Harris finished the game with 100 yards on 15 carries.
The Cougars began their next offensive series on their own 37 and marched into Monsignor Donovan territory before stalling with a fourth and six from the 18. Chase Young then kicked a 39-yard field goal to stretch the lead back to two scores with 2:04 still showing on the third quarter clock.
The Rams would not go away, however, and scored again on a two-yard run by A.J. Stokes with 11:55 remaining in the game. Jeremiah Dave blocked the extra point attempt to leave the score at 31-27.
Piedmont then scored on its third consecutive possession of the second half on a one-yard run by Hunter Knox on fourth and goal. Knox was initially stopped short of the goal line, but the senior fought his way in. After Young’s kick, the Cougars held a 38-27 lead with 7:38 left in the game.
Monsignor Donovan then went four and out and Piedmont was able to run out most of the remaining time after 10 plays and two first downs. The Cougars did turn the football over on downs with less than 10 seconds remaining but the outcome was sealed by this point.
“We worked hard on our defensive scheme all week,” said senior Gaven Edge. “We had to deal with some cold weather at practice early in the week but it was worth it.”
Teammate Chris Cain once again played a key role for Piedmont in the trenches.
“We played well overall,” Cain said. “We knew it wasgoing to be a tough game. We are working together as a team right now and that is what is helping us be successful.”
Monsignor Donovan, located in Athens, is only in its second year of playing varsity football. The Ram program was featured in the Athens Banner-Herald Friday with quotes from former University of Georgia football coach Vince Dooley, who helped advise school officials on starting the program.
The Rams took a 7-0 lead after marching 74 yards on the game’s opening series in 11 plays. After rushing the football 10 times, Monsignor Donovan found the end zone on a 23-yard pass from Lee Brackman to Braxton Haley.
Piedmont answered with a long drive of its own. After a short kick that was returned to the Ram 47-yard line by Ben Davis, the Cougars used 10 plays to find the end zone on a two-yard keeper by Beggs, who used a strong fake to Dave at fullback.
The Cougars then recovered an onside kick to regain possession and would take advantage of the special teams play by finding the end zone again on a two-yard run by Knox. The senior running back, one of the top players in the GISA, ripped off a 25-yard run on the first play of the drive as well.
Monsignor Donovan would tie the score on a fumble return on a punt. Jeremiah Jordan scooped up the loose football and raced 30 yards for the score.
Piedmont would take a 21-14 lead into halftime after Knox added a 40-yard run on a fourth and three play with 3:45 left before halftime.
The Cougar defense preserved the lead after holding the Rams on a fourth and inches play at the Piedmont five-yard line with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter.
“Our secondary played lights out,” Tanner said of last week’s defensive effort. “They got a couple of things here and there on us, but overall we played great.”
The offensive effort was also strong throughout the contest.
“We were able to run the football right at them,” said Knox, one of the team’s seniors. “We ran it at least 95 percent of the time. It’s fun when you are able to run right at the opponent like that.”
“Our offensive line really surged when it had to,” Tanner said. “There were times our linemen were driving defenders five to eight yards down the field.”
Despite the win in the semifinals, it seemed it was the Cougars, even being the more established program, who had to fight for respect. That didn’t seem to bother the players, however.
“We played well again and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks,” said Zach Wilson. “It’s a great feeling knowing we will get to play for it all.”
Piedmont will be trying for its third state title since 2010. The Cougars won back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011, but haven’t won a playoff game since.
“This team exploded tonight so we could reach our goal of playing for state,” defensive coordinator Jeff Beggs said after the win.
Practice resumed for Piedmont players and coaches Monday. All associated with the program now have the opportunity to take part in something special: the state championship game.
“It’s hard to explain it,” Knox said. “I know it’s something special and I know it’s something we will always remember. It just takes a while to sink in.”
Cain called the opportunity in front of the team Saturday as a “humbling experience.”
“We’ve been working for this all year and now we get that chance,” Cain said. “I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.”
Memorial Day will be a big challenge for Piedmont Academy. The Savannah-based school has not lost to a Class AA school this season, similar to the Cougars.
The Matadors use a Wing-T offense, which will mean Piedmont defenders must play disciplined, assignment football.
“Scheme-wise they are simple,” Tanner said. “From an athletic standpoint, they are very complex. They have athletes everywhere on their team. They have a good fullback and two good wingbacks. They are also solid up front. Playing assignment football will be pivotal. We have to play sound defensive technique on every snap or they will have a 50-yard run.”
The Cougar coaching staff will try to approach this week of practice as they have any this season.
“You approach it like you do every game,” Tanner said. “We will have to weather the storm at times, but you treat the game, even though it’s a state championship, the same way.”
In Memorial Day’s semifinal win, the Matadors jumped out to a 13-0 halftime lead, but Georgia Christian took a 14-13 lead midway through the fourth quarter.
McKinley Habersham scored on a 63-yard pass from Kemuan Tillman for the game-winning score just 5:37 remaining.
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Piedmont Academy captains for the semifinal game were Hunter Knox, Gaven Edge, Payden Cantera and Hank Strickland.
The GISA AA title game will be at 3 p.m. with the AAA championship between Westfield and Pinewood at 7:30 p.m.
Players of Week
•Offense: Zach Beggs
•Defense: Ben Davis, Mack Brady, Hank Strickland, Michael Edwards
•Special Teams: Chase Young, Chris McClain, Noah Quick
•Overall: Dave, Gaven Edge and Wyatt Galloway
Stats vs. Monsignor Donovan
• Hunter Knox: 44 rushes for 267 yards, 3 TDs
• Jeremiah Dave 9 rushes for 67 yards
• Zach Beggs: 3 rushes for 5 yards, 1 TD; 1-of-1 passing for 19 yards, 1 TD
Scouting Report
•The Game: Piedmont Academy vs. Memorial Day, Saturday, 3 p.m. at Mercer University in Macon, GISA Class AA state championship
•Records: Piedmont 10-1 overall, No. 1 seed from Region 1-AA; Memorial Day 9-2, No. 1 seed from Region 2-AAA
•Coaches: Piedmont, Wes Tanner, first season as head coach at Piedmont, 10-1, second season as a head coach, 12-10 overall; Memorial Day, Michael Thompson, 73-15 in seven seasons with the Matadors
•Piedmont wins: Gatewood 14-7, Bethlehem Christian Academy 77-0, Griffin Christian 56-0, Windsor Academy 49-14, Briarwood Academy 31-21, Georgia Christian 17-14, Dawson Street 62-12, Flint River 42-20, Robert Toombs 28-14, Monsignor Donovan 38-27; Losses: John Milledge Academy 56-42
•Memorial Day wins: Bethesda Academy 41-24, Trinity Christian-Dublin 37-31, Bulloch Academy 39-7, Robert Toombs 20-18, First Presbyterian Christian 60-12, David Emanuel Academy 58-18, Southland Academy 33-15, Briarwood 29-12, Georgia Christian 21-14; Losses: Valwood 51-15, Pinewood 22-14.
•Key Players: Piedmont: Hunter Knox, Jeremiah Dave, Zach Beggs, Chase Young, Chris McClain, Gaven Edge; Memorial Day: McKinley Habersham, Kemuan Tillman
•Piedmont Academy is back in the state championship game after a two-year absence. The Cougars won state in 2010 and 2011. The only loss this season for Piedmont was a high-scoring match-up with John Milledge, which advanced to the semifinals in Class AAA.
Both Piedmont and Memorial Day played Georgia Christian this season with the Cougars winning 17-14 on a late field goal by Chase Young.
The Memorial Day Matadors defeated Georgia Christian 21-14 last week in the other AA semifinal match-up after trailing late in the game. Both Piedmont and Memorial also defeated Briarwood and Robert Toombs in 2014.
The Cougars’ offensive line of Clay Kirkpatrick, Payden Cantera, Nolan Cleary, Hunter Burson and Chris Cain have played solid all season in helping the team’s running game be successful. Piedmont has also benefited from solid play by quarterback Zach Beggs in directing the offense and from kicker Chase Young on special teams.
Young made all extra-point kicks in 2014 but one, and has also been successful on all of his field goal attempts, including a 39-yarder against Monsignor Donovan last Friday. Memorial Day is the defending GISA Class AA state champion, finishing 12-1 in 2013.
•Prediction: Piedmont 23, Memorial Day 20.