Cougars Win First Playoff Game
Any thoughts Flint River may have entertained about an upset in the first round of the GISA Class AA playoffs last Friday night, all but ended on the game’s opening kickoff.
The Wildcats won the toss but elected to kick off to host Piedmont Academy, the undefeated and No. 1 ranked team in the state. Dylan Collins made Flint River regret the decision as he went 72 yards for a score giving the Cougars a lead they would never relinquish on their way to a dominating 63-8 victory.
The number of points was a season high for Piedmont, who will remain home this Friday for a semifinal match-up against Valwood at 7:30 p.m.
“I was very excited about how we came out ready to play, literally from the opening kickoff,” said coach Rhett Farmer. “I was glad we were able to take care of business from the start.”
The Cougars (11-0 overall) had the game in hand early. After forcing the Wildcats to go three and out on their first offensive series, Piedmont marched 51 yards in nine plays, capped by an 8-yard touchdown pass from Alex Hall to Dylan Collins in the right corner of the end zone for a two-touchdown lead.
The Cougar defense then added to the advantage on a 36-yard interception return for a score by Dakota Collins with 5:09 still left in the first quarter.
Piedmont moved in front 28-0 on a 48-yard run by standout tailback Blake Hammock, who finished the game with 247 yards on just 11 carries. Hammock’s strong night would be supplemented by 63 yards, including a touchdown, from Peter Lawson and 56 yards on eight carries by quarterback Hall.
The Cougars increased their lead to 35-0 on a 9-yard keeper by Hall with 2:36 left before halftime. Piedmont’s defense kept Flint River (3-8) out of the end zone just before halftime.
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The Wildcats started the possession at their own 31 and marched deep into Cougar territory before they faced a fourth and two at the 7-yard line. The Piedmont defense held, however, to maintain the five-touchdown lead at halftime.
The second half was more of the same for the No. 1 team in the state. Hall capped the opening series of the third quarter for his team on a 41-yard run. The Cougar defense then added another score on a 44-yard fumble return by Dylan Collins.
Hammock showed why he considered one of the top backs in the GISA on a 75-yard with 4:04 left in the third quarter. Lawson capped the scoring for Piedmont with 1:00 left in the third on a 62-yard run. Flint River managed its lone score with 5:56 left on a 20-yard run.
While the offense continued to post incredible stats and numbers, Farmer was quick to also give kudos to his defense.
“I was extremely proud of our defense,” the coach said.
“We had two defensive touchdowns. The defense did what they had been taught to do during the week. We were playing the split back veer and that’s a tough offense to defend when you don’t see it much. I was pleased with our offense obviously, but we have gotten so much better defensively.”
Seth Harvey had six solo tackles and six assists against Flint River while Lawson had six solo stops and 11 assists. Jakey Dunagan finished with four solo stops and five assists while Tyler Cullum had five solo tackles. Austin Corley contributed three solo stops and four assists while Rhett Roberts had three solo tackles and two assists.
Dylan Collins finished with two solo stops, two assists, two fumble recovers and a fumble recovery for a score.
Up next for Piedmont will be the Valwood Valiants, who defeated Brentwood last Friday 31-28 in a quarterfinal matchup.
Valwood is 9-2 overall with one loss coming by just three points.
“Valwood is loaded, loaded, loaded with athletes,” Farmer said. “They are going to spread you out with a lot of formations. They have some big time receivers. They are going to throw it but they also run it effectively.
They are well coached and find ways to exploit your weaknesses. They are not a traditional I-formation team. They will run one back with four receivers.”
The Valiants have “big play” capability, Farmer said, and it will be important for Piedmont to make Valwood go on sustained drives.
“We need to make them march the length of the field,” the coach said. “You have to make them execute several plays and don’t let them have short possessions that end in scores. Our goal defensively will be to make them earn it.”
Defensively, the Valiants have used a 4-4 and 5-3. Farmer said he expects them to put several defenders close to the line of scrimmage in order to stop the run.
“We’ve seen that all year,” the coach said. “We’ll just have to be ready to block it.”
In addition to eliminating big plays, Farmer said his team will need to not have turnovers and to play well on special teams.
NOTES: Captains for Friday’s first-round playoff game were Rhett Roberts, Seth Harvey, Daniel Leinweber and Jakey Dunagan.
Sam Cleary was 9-of-9 on extra point kicks to help lead a strong special teams effort for Piedmont.
The Cougars will remain at home in the playoffs as long as they continue winning.
STATS VS. FLINT RIVER
Offensive: Blake Hammock: 11 carries for 247 yards and 2 TDs
Peter Lawson: 2 carries for 63 yards, 1 TD
Alex Hall: 8 carries for 56 yards and 2 TDs, 2 for 3 passing for 13 yards and 1 TD
Dakota Collins: 4 carries for 14 yards
Sam Cleary: 9 for 9 on PATs
Rhett Roberts: 1 reception for 5 yards
Dylan Collins: 72-yard kickoff return for TD, 1 reception for 8 yards (TD)
Tyler Cullum : 4 carries for 4 yards
Mills Smith: 1 carry for 2 yards
Malik Reid: 1 carry for 3 yards
Defensive: Peter Lawson: 6 solos and 11 assists
Zach Benjamin: 2 pass break ups
Dylan Collins: 2 solos, 2 assists, 2 recovered fumbles (1 returned for a 44-yard TD)
Rhett Roberts: 3 solos, 2 assists
Sam Cleary: 1 solo, 2 assists, 1 pass break up
Tyler Cullum: 5 assists
Dakota Collins: 1 solo, 11 assists and 36-yard interception return for a TD
Jakey Dunagan: 4 solos, 5 assists
Austin Corley: 3 solos,4 assists
Seth Harvey: 6 solos,6 assists
Nick Dimsdale: 1 solo, 2 assists
Malik Reid: 1 solo,2 assists
Alex Hall: 2 assists
Daniel Leinweber: 2 assists
Justin Wilson: 1 assist
Willy Roberts: 1 solo, 2 assists
Carl Gansalves-Barreiro: 3 solos
Evan Harvey: 1 assist
Glade Tuggle: 1 solo, 1 assist
Michael Berg: 1 assist
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Defensive Player of the Week: Dakota Collins
Offensive Player of the Week: Blake Hammock
Lineman of the Week: Seth Harvey
Player of the Week: Dylan Collins