Cougars Fall on the Road

The Piedmont Academy football team ventured a long way from home last Friday night only to suffer a disappointing loss to host Valwood.
The Cougars (4-4 overall) fell 20-14 despite having a chance to perhaps win the game in the final minutes. While disappointed with the loss, Piedmont coach Danny Camp was pleased by his team’s effort.

“It was a heartbreaker,” the Cougar coach said. “It was a very physical game. There were some pads popping. We played well overall. We did have a few mistakes and when you look back at any game — win or lose — the outcome usually comes down to two or three plays. That’s what happened Friday night.”

Piedmont took the game’s opening kickoff and moved the football into Valwood territory. Faced with a fourth down and already in field goal range, Camp decided to go for the first down only to come up a little short.

The Cougar defense held, however, and forced Valwood into a punting situation. The Valiant punt was shanked giving Piedmont good field position. The Cougars eventually punched the football in the end zone for a 7-0 first quarter lead.

Valwood responded to tie the game and would eventually take a 10-7 lead into the locker room at halftime on a field goal with five seconds left in the second quarter.

The Valiants moved in front 17-7 in the third quarter before Piedmont battled to pull within 17-14. Valwood added a field goal for a six-point lead on a scoring drive that was kept alive on a pass interference call.

“They had been letting us play physical all night and then the interference was called,” Camp said.
Piedmont had one final chance taking possession with approximately four minutes left. The Cougars got as far as the Valwood 15-yard line before turning the football over on downs.
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Camp said his team’s offensive line played well last Friday. Center Clint Fields, guards Jake Landress, Charlie Needham and Matt Wilson, tackles Randy Reagin and Andrew Stevenson and tight ends Ben Cleary and Whit Morgan each had a solid outing.

The play of the line helped the team have two 100-yard rushers.

Christopher Hornibrook totaled 106 yards on 18 attempts while Lance Richardson added 100 yards on 19 carries.

Quarterback Zac Hauther was also a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 85 yards with receptions by Hornibrook, Morgan, Cleary and D.J. Allen.
The Piedmont coaches are still dealing with various injuries.

Joey Schroeder was able to return against Valwood although Justin Atkins missed his second game in a row.

“We’ve gained a lot of experience in our first eight games and that’s partly because we’ve had to change the lineup so much because of injuries,” Camp said.

Despite the disappointing loss to Valwood, Camp said his team must refocus this week in practice for its homecoming matchup with Holy Spirit.
Piedmont enters this week’s region game with a 1-0 mark in 4-AA play while Holy Spirit is emerging as the surprise team of the region with a 2-0 mark.

“We have to pick ourselves back up and be ready to battle again,” Camp said. “We would love to be able to host a playoff game and that’s why this game is so important. We are 4-0 at home this year and 0-4 on the road. We would love to play more at home obviously.”

While a relatively new program, Holy Spirit has some good athletes, Camp said, and has already defeated Monroe Academy this fall, a program with years more history.

“We can’t take them lightly,” the coach said. “They run out of the I-formation, but they will also throw it a good bit. We have to be prepared mentally to play. It would help us to be able to jump out to an early lead.”

This Friday’s game is also homecoming and Camp said his players would have to put those distractions behind them as well. Kickoff at Cougar Field is set for 7:30 p.m.

STATS vs. Valwood
P 7 0 7 0 — 14
V 7 3 7 3 — 20
Defense:
Tackles:
Randy Reagin, 8.5 tackles, 1 sack
Lance Richardson, 6.5 tackles
Hugo McCoy, 6 tackles, 1 for loss
D.J. Allen, 5.5 tackles
Zac Hauther, 4 tackles, 1 for loss
Andrew Stevenson, 4 tackles
Offense:
Rushing:
Christopher Hornibrook, 18/106
Lance Richardson, 19/100
D.J. Allen, 5 for 7
Zac Hauther, 3 for 4
Passing:
Zac Hauther, 4-of-4, 85 yards
Receiving:
Christopher Hornibrook, 1 for 20
Whit Morgan, 1 for 46
Ben Cleary, 1 for 12
D.J. Allen, 1 for 7
Penalties:
PAC, 1 for 5
V, 2 for 10