Cougars Win
The Piedmont Academy football team turned in an impressive performance last Friday in a 49-14 homecoming victory against Windsor Academy.
The Cougars, who are now 4-1 overall, defeated an opponent which most agree is the most improved in the GISA this season. After going winless in 2013, the Knights have already posted several impressive victories this season but were unable to keep track with Piedmont over the entire course of the game.
“The score is not indicative of how the game went,” said Piedmont coach Wes Tanner. “Windsor really competed. It was a tough, competitive game for most of the night. We had a kickoff return for a score, a long run for a score and an interception return for a touchdown. Those plays made a big different in the outcome.”
Hunter Knox continued his impressive season Friday with 229 yards rushing on 22 attempts. Knox scored the first touchdown of the game on a 6-yard run and reached the endzone in the second quarter from a yard out. Knox had a 60-yard kickoff return in the third quarter and then capped his night with a 67-yard run later in the third quarter and another 6-yard score in the fourth.
“Hunter had a special night,” Tanner said. “We are talking about a kid who can make something out of nothing.”
Knox is closing in on the 1,000-yard mark for the season with 942 yards on 101 attempts with 15 touchdowns.
Senior quarterback Zach Beggs passed for 110 yards, connecting twice with Hank Strickland for 46 yards.
Piedmont had 384total yards of rushing offense on 39 carries..
Mack Brady returned an interception 82 yards for a score in the second half and continues to be impressive in the defensive backfield in his first season on the varsity team.
“We were able to overcome a sluggish start,” Tanner said. “I think for the better part of the first half we were still thinking about John Milledge. However, Windsor woke us up. They knocked us in the mouth and luckily we came out and did what we needed to do in the second half.”
Up next for Piedmont will be Briarwood Academy this Friday in Warrenton. The Buccaneers are currently 4-1 overall after a 43-14 win against David Emanuel last week. Briarwood also defeated Flint River, who also competes in Region 1-AA with Piedmont, 21-14.
“Briarwood is as fundamentally sound of a team we will play all year,” Tanner said. “They know what they are doing and they line up and do it. They are very basic. They will be in the I formation 90 percent of the time. There is no trickery involved. They just come right at you.”
Piedmont’s defense will look for another solid effort this week. In the win against Windsor, Wyatt Galloway had five solo stops and four assists while Gaven Edge had three solo tackles and five assists. Jeremiah Dave registered five solo stops with two assists and three tackles for negative yards.
On special teams, Chase Young was perfect with seven extra-point kicks and continues to be 100 percent on tries this season.
Players of the Week:
Overall: Hunter Knox
Offense: Clay Kirkpatrick
Defense: Gaven Edge
Special Teams: Chase Young
Stats vs. Windsor:
•H. Knox: 22 carries for 229 yards, 10.4 average, 4 TDs
•B. Davis: 2 carries for 91 yards, 1 TD
•Zach Beggs: 6-of-14 passing, 110 yards; 11 carries for 35 yards
•H.Strickland: 2 catches for 46 yards
•C. McClain: 1 catch for 22 yards
•M. Edwards: 1 catch for 20 yards
•W. Galloway: 5 solo tackles, 4 assists
•G. Edge: 3 solo tackles, 5 assists
•J. Dave: 5 solo tackles, 2 assists
•Z. Wilson: 4 assists, 2 tackles for loss
•C.Cain: 4 solo tackles, 6 assists
•C.Young: 7-of-7 on extra point attempts