Cougars Fall to AAA Opponent

The tough non-region schedule for the Piedmont Academy team continued last Friday with a home matchup with Class AAA Trinity (Sharpsburg).

While the Cougars improved in some areas and had some strong individual performances, Trinity took a 37-19 victory. Piedmont is now 1-5 overall and will play its final non-region game this week at Cougar Field.

“We played pretty well offensively,” said Piedmont coach Rhett Farmer. “We didn’t hold onto the football, however, and had three fumbles. One was a backbreaker because we were behind a score to start the second half and were driving the football.”

The Cougars, who are a run-oriented team, were effective through the air. Quarterback Hunter Knox passed for 127 yards, including four passes to Gaven Edge for 115 yards.

Peter Lawson rushed for 89 yards and a score on 23 carries. Knox added 76 yards on the ground with two scores on 18 attempts.

“We didn’t play well up front in our run game,” Farmer said. “We had poor foot work and were making some mistakes you can’t make if we want to run the football effectively.”

The coach said he was disappointed at the number of big runs the defense allowed.

“We do have some younger guys on offense and defense so it’s not surprising that we are struggling at times,” Farmer said. “We gave up a lot of big runs because we were losing containment. We also didn’t tackle well in the secondary.”

Malik Reid, who was the Player of the Game, had nine solo tackles and five assists. Josh Hempel recorded five solo stops and five assists. He also had a tackle for a loss.

Lawson, who intercepted a pass, had five solo tackles and an assist.

“The effort was better defensively,” Farmer said. “When you play a team that is larger and has more team speed, you have to play almost to perfection,” Farmer said. “Turnovers and poor tackling certainly hurt us.”

Up next for Piedmont will be the Windsor Knights. Friday is homecoming for the Cougars.

Windsor is struggling this season and has already had an in-season coaching change.

“They have not scored a lot of points and have given up a lot,” Farmer said. “We expect to have a chance to win, just like we expect to have a chance every week. We believe the meat of our schedule is behind us and we hope what we have learned will help us in the final games.”

While there will be somewhat of an unknown element concerning Windsor after the coaching change, Farmer said he expects the Knights to use a 5-3 defense and a wishbone/option offense with some I-formation and Power I.

“We will keep working,” Farmer said. “We feel if we do, then some good things will come our way. We are banged up right now and need to get everyone back. We’ll look to play well this week and then get everyone healed up during the open week.”

Kickoff Friday is set for 7:30 p.m.

Stats vs. Trinity Christian Sharpsburg

Offense

•Peter Lawson: 23 carries for 89 yards and 1 TD

•Hunter Knox: 18 carries for 76 yards and 2 TD, 5 for 12 passing for 127 yards

•Nick Dimsdale : 2 carries for 6 yards, 1 reception for 12 yards

•Gaven Edge: 4 receptions for 115 yards

Defensive

•Peter Lawson: 5 solos and 1 assist, 1 interception

•Malik Reid: 9 solos, 5 assists

•Britton Bailey: 2 assists

•Mills Smith: 1 assist

•Hank Strickland: 1 solo and 2 assists

•Gaven Edge: 2 solos and 1 assists

•Payden Cantera: 1 solo

•Justin Autry: 1 solo and 2 assists

•Andrew Wilzman: 2 solos

•Josh Hempel: 5 solos and 5 assists, 1 tackle for loss

•Austin Taylor: solo

•Hunter Clark: 1 solo and 3 assists

McKenzie Brittain: 1 assist Special Teams:

•Zach Wilson: 3 punts for a net average of 24 yards

•Josh Hempel: 1-of-1 on PAT

Player of the Game:

•Malik Reid