Cougars Roll to Second Victory

The Piedmont Academy football team took the field again last Friday night and wasted little time in taking care of business.

The Cougars ran by an overmatched Nathanael Greene team 55-14 to improve to 2-0 overall record early in the 2011 season. Taking advantage of several special teams miscues by the visiting Patriots, Piedmont ran less than 20 offensive plays in the entire contest.

Despite another lopsided victory by his team, Cougar coach Rhett Farmer said improvement is still needed in several areas.

“We are making some mistakes on both sides of the football that would cost us when we play the tougher teams in our region,” Farmer said. “You can’t be a championship team when you are doing that.”

In Friday’s win, Piedmont scored touchdowns on its first three offensive snaps. Despite a limited number of plays from scrimmage, the Cougars still managed 345 yards on the ground.

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“We took our opponent seriously,” Farmer said. “We went out and took care of business. We never overlook any opponent.”

By the second half, Piedmont was in such command, and ahead by so many points that a running clock was used.

In reviewing the game tape, Farmer and the Cougar coaches have seen several areas which require work. Farmer said there are times the receivers are not lining up properly on the line of scrimmage.

“We also have to get better with our technique up front,” the coach said. “Defensively, our front seven needs to get better. We still have plenty to work on.”

Despite some areas which need adjusting, it was still another dominating performance by Piedmont. The offensive line, including center Daniel Leinweber, right guard Glade Tuggle, right tackle Seth Harvey, tight end Payden Cantera, left guard Justin Wilson and left tackle Austin Corley, have helped the offense be almost unstoppable to this juncture.

Harvey continues to excel on special teams registering five touchbacks on kickoffs last Friday and going 7-of-8 on point after attempts.

Also on special teams, Tuggle recovered a blocked punt for a score and Harvey blocked a punt. Farmer said his team was not trying to block punts, but often bad snaps by NGA would lead to plays being made by the Cougars.

Peter Lawson and Nick Dimsdale both rushed for more than 100 yards against Nathanael Greene.

Farmer said his team was not able to work on its passing game as the Patriots are in a rebuilding phase.

The coach praised the defensive play of Corley, Wilson, Lawson and Gaven Edge, who was the team’s leading tackler last week.

Piedmont will be on its first road trip this Friday as the Cougars venture to Griffin Christian. The Crusaders have a completely revamped coaching staff and are coming off a 44-0 loss to Flint River last week.

“They are battling some injuries and with a new coaching staff they are trying to establish something,” Farmer said.

Griffin Christian has shown everything offensively from a four-receiver set to a wishbone look to the I-formation. Defensively, the Crusaders will likely run a 5-3.

“They were beaten badly last week but we will not overlook them,” Farmer said. “You can never take any opponent for granted and assume that you are just going to show up and win. I expect our best effort. At this point early in the season, we are nowhere near to the point we need to be. We are not at the level of being any type of contender right now.”

STATS vs. NATHANAEL GREENE

Offense:

•Peter Lawson: five carries for 127 yards, three touchdowns

•Nick Dimsdale: four carries for 105 yards, two touchdowns

•Zach Benjamin: four carries for 45 yards, one touchdown

•Hunter Knox: two carries for eight yards

•Gaven Edge: three carries for 78 yards, one touchdown

Defense:

•Peter Lawson: two solo tackles and two assists, one pass break-up

•Hank Strickland: three solo tackles and four assists

•Britton Bailey: two assists

•Mills Smith: three solo tackles, four assists, one tackle for loss

•Evan Harvey: four assists, one blocked point-after kick

•Zach Benjamin: one solo tackle

•Bobby Mitchell: one assist, one pass break-up, one tackle for loss

•Hunter Knox: one solo tackle, six assists

•Zach Beggs: one solo tackle, three assists

•Patrick Berg: three assists

•Glade Tuggle: one assist, one blocked punt recovery for score

•Gaven Edge: five solo tackles, five assists

•Tyler Cullum: three assists, one pass break-up

•Payden Cantera: one solo tackle, five assists

•Daniel Leinweber: one solo tackle

•Andrew Wilzman: two solo tackles, one tackle for loss

•Austin Corley: one solo tackle, two assists

•Seth Harvey: five solo tackles, one blocked punt, one tackle for loss

•Justin Wilson: two solo tackles, two assists and one quarterback pressure

•Luke Andrews: two assists

•Chase Olson: two assists

•McKenzie Brittain: two solo tackles, one assist

Players of the week:

•Nick Dimsdale, offense

•Gaven Edge, defense

•Seth Harvey, special teams