Piedmont Begins Spring Football

The Piedmont Academy football team returned to the field Tuesday as spring drills began for the 2013 season.

The team will have nine practice days as the countdown to the new campaign moves into high gear.

“We will try to find out who’s ready to contribute,” coach Rhett Farmer said. “We need to find a fullback, a middle linebacker and some help on the defensive line. We want to come out of spring seeing what some of our new faces can do.”

The Cougars are coming off another region title and the goal is to repeat and host state playoff games once again this fall.

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“We will also see if some players can contribute at other positions,” Farmer said. “Spring is always a good time to see who can help in other areas.”

Spring will conclude with a scrimmage on May 24. While initially the plan was to scrimmage against another school, Farmer said it may end up being an intra-squad affair.

“We have some players who are banged up from other sports,” Farmer said. “If we can find someone to scrimmage we may do that, but our numbers are a little lower right now. We may just have a team workout to finish spring.”

Farmer will be without a full coaching staff this spring. Wes Tanner, who has been the defensive coordinator for the program during the last six seasons, has been hired as the head coach for Covenant Academy in Macon.

In addition, assistant Josh Daher will be moving to Flint River Academy in Woodbury for the upcoming school year. Tanner also coached golf for Piedmont while Daher directed the school’s basketball programs.

Farmer said he will conduct spring practice along with coaches Bubba Nelson, Keith Mason and Alvin Hawkes. Additional hires are expected in coming weeks.