Cougars Roll to Another Win
For the fourth time this season the Piedmont Academy football team posted at least 50 points and as a result remained undefeated last Friday in a 54-27 win against visiting Robert Toombs.
A 200-yard rushing performance by Blake Hammock helped lead the way for the Cougars, who are now 8-0 overall and 4-0 in Region 1-AA. Dakota Collins added 96 yards for Piedmont.
“I was happy to see us go out and take care of business,” said Cougar head coach Rhett Farmer.
“We talked about not looking ahead. I was pleased with how we did Friday. We could have performed better in some areas on both sides of the football, but overall I was pleased with our intensity and emotion.”
Hammock’s monster night came on just 12 carries, which also resulted in three touchdowns. Collins added another score on seven rushes. Zach Benjamin contributed 47 yards and a touchdown on three carries.
“We gave up some passing yards early,” Farmer said. “Our main goal was to stop their quarterback from rushing the football. That was our number one priority.”
While Robert Toombs was successful throwing the football, the Piedmont coaching staff changed coverages at halftime and was more successful defensively in the second half.
“We defended the run well,” Farmer said. “Offensively, we moved the football well all night.”
Rhett Roberts continues to be a leader on the defensive side of the football with six solo tackles, including four for negative yards, and one assist. Tyler Cullum returned an interception 53 yards for a score and also had four assists.
Peter Lawson contributed four solo tackles and four assists, as did Dakota Collin. Benjamin finished with four solo tackles and an assist.
Last Friday’s win sets up a huge region battle with Brentwood on the road this week in Sandersville. The Eagles are also undefeated in Region 1-AA action. Brentwood’s only losses this season have come against AAA schools.
“This is a big one,” Farmer said. “Both sides view this as a rival matchup. We have to be ready to play.”
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Coach Bert Brown runs a Wing-T based offense and has used it for years to much success.
“That’s why they are good,” Farmer said. “They commit to something and stick with it. They play football the way it is supposed to be played. We will have to play assignment football defensively and play team defense.
Stopping Brentwood will be about going back to day one in our ‘50’ defense. We are going to have do a great deal of work this week to prepare for them.”
While the season has been a success to this point, Farmer said big challenges are in front of his team.
“This will be a huge test,” the coach said. “We are still going one week at a time.”
Kickoff in Sandersville is set for 7:30 p.m.
NOTES: Piedmont remained No. 1 in the GISA Class AA poll this week followed by Flint River, Southwest Georgia, Brentwood and Edmund Burke.
Stats vs. Robert Toombs
Offensive:
Peter Lawson: 2 carries for 10 yards, 1 TD
Alex Hall: 5 carries for 11 yards, 1 TD, 1-of-3 passing 5 yards
Blake Hammock: 12 carries for 200 yards and 3 TDs, 0 for 1 passing.
Dakota Collins: 7 carries for 96 yards and 1 TD
Sam Cleary: 6-of-8 on PATs
Zach Benjamin: 3 carries for 47 yards and 1 TD
Nick Dimsdale: 1 carry for 4 yards
Mills Smith: 1 carry for (-3) yards
Tyler Cullum: 1 carry for 5 yards
Defensive:
Peter Lawson: 4 solos and 4 assists
Zach Benjamin: 4 solos and 1 assist
Dylan Collins: 2 solos and 3 assists
Rhett Roberts: 6 solos (4 for loss) and 1 assist
Sam Cleary: 2 solos, 1 assist and 1 interception
Tyler Cullum: 4 assists and a 53-yard interception return for a TD
Dakota Collins: 4 solos (1 for loss) and 4 assists
Jakey Dunagan: 2 solos and 6 assists
Austin Corley: 1 solo and 7 assists
Seth Harvey: 3 assists
Nick Dimsdale: 2 solos and 2 assists
Alex Hall: 2 assists
Malik Reid: 2 assists
Evan Harvey: 1 solo
Player of the Game: Austin Corley