Cougars Fall in Opening Round
Despite having one of its best offensive performances of the season, the Piedmont Academy football team fell 38-31 to Brookwood in the opening round of the GISA Class AA playoffs Friday night.
The Cougars, who held a 28-21 lead at halftime, compiled 334 yards of offense using a balanced attack. Piedmont had 160 yards rushing and another 174 through the air. The yards and points were not quite enough, however, to overcome a strong second half by the visiting Warriors.
“It was disappointing to lose considering how well we played offensively against a quality opponent,” coach Rhett Farmer said. “We have not done a good job defensively recently, especially in stopping the run. That’s something you have to do in high school football.”
The coach said his team did not play quite as well offensively in the second half, managing just three points.
“Of course, we didn’t have the football a lot in the second half,” Farmer said.
One sequence which turned out to be key in the game came in the second half when the Cougars led 28-24 and appeared set for another possible score. Piedmont faced a fourth down and short yardage but was called for a chop block.
While the penalty was “questionable,” Farmer said, the result saw the Cougars have to attempt a field goal. While Austin Bass converted a 41-yard attempt, it left Brookwood within one score.
“Our inability to move the football late in the game also cost us,” Farmer said. “For the most part we played well offensively. Defensively, we had some chances to stop them on their game winning drive.”
Hunter Knox had a big night rushing for 102 yards and two scores on 24 attempts. He was also 9-of-11 passing for 174 yards, including a touchdown pass to Hank Strickland.
Mills Smith had a productive game with three catches for 89 yards. Farmer said the team used its passing attack due to the defensive scheme used by Brookwood.
“Brookwood had given up some points, but they are a quality team,” Farmer said. “They should have beaten Westwood but lost in overtime after a late interception. Their whole region is pretty good offensively. It was clear they studied the Flint River film and ran it right at us. We didn’t do a good job with our stunts. Some of that goes back to youth, but it is still frustrating.”
Too many offensive penalties in the second half Friday night also hurt Piedmont’s chances of emerging with the win.
“We weren’t staying ahead of the chains,” Farmer said. “You can’t have penalties in a game of that magnitude.”
Piedmont began the second half with a seven-play drive which eventually stalled at midfield. The lone scoring drive of the second half for the Cougars lasted 14 plays, but yielded only three points.
Strickland finished the night with four catches for 64 yards while Dylan Efird made two receptions for 21 yards.
Piedmont’s first half scoring drives covered 61, 52, 65 and 70 yards. Brookwood, however, scored the winning touchdown with 12 seconds left in the contest on a 6-yard run. Taylor Patterson led the Warriors with 209 yards on 29 attempts.
There were also some bright spots for the Cougar defense Friday night. Malik Reid recorded 16 total tackles while Smith finished with 15. Dylan Efird added 13 tackles while Chris Cain recorded 11 and MacKenzie Brittain finished with 10.
Stats vs. Brookwood
Offense
•Hunter Knox: 24 rushes for 102 yards, 3 rushing TDs; 9-of-11 passing for 174 yards, 1 TD
•Gaven Edge: 16 rushes for 58 yards
•Mills Smith: 3 catches for 89 yards
•Hank Strickland: 4 catches for 64 yards, 1 TD
•Dylan Efird: 1 carry for 3 yards; two catches for 21 yards
Special Teams
•Austin Bass: 3-for-3 on PATS, 41-yard field goal
Defense
•Malik Reid: 16 tackles
•Mills Smith: 15 tackles
•Dylan Efird: 13 tackles
•Chris Cain: 11 tackles
•MacKenzie Brittain: 10 tackles
•Evan Harvey: 8 tackles
•Hunter Knox: 7 tackles
•Britton Bailey: 6 tackles
•Gaven Edge: 3 tackles
•Austin Taylor: 3 tackles
•Mike Weatherly: 3 tackles
•Zach Whitwell: 2 tackles
•Ben Davis: 1 tackle