Cougars Suffer Another Disappointing Loss

The 2003 football season started on a strong note for the Piedmont Academy Cougars. The team won five of its first six games and appeared on track to win its third consecutive region crown.

Since that time, however, the wheels have fallen off for the Cougars who lost their third game in a row last Friday to Monroe Academy 27-8. The loss means Piedmont (5-4, 1-3) will have no chance of hosting a first-round state playoff game.

“We are not playing good football right now,” Cougar head coach Charlie Lane said. “Injuries are hurting us. There’s no doubt about that, but it seems it has been one thing right after another recently. We can’t get everyone healthy and that hurts you in all areas.”
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Standout running back Daniel Beckham tried to play against Monroe Academy, but was sick and nowhere near 100 percent, Lane said. Eventually the Piedmont coaches had to tell Beckham he would not play anymore in the game.

All-State running back Jeremy Reese is also not at 100 percent because of a shoulder injury suffered early this season.

“When we don’t have those two at 100 percent it hurts us physically but also mentally,” Lane said. “We had chances in the game last week and we had some bright spots. However, there were also times we couldn’t do anything right.”

After the host Mustangs took a 7-0 lead, the Cougars answered on a 2-yard run by Reese. Taylor Marsh’s two-point conversion pass to Matt Allen gave Piedmont an 8-7 lead, but it would not hold up.

“I wouldn’t say that we underestimated Monroe,” Lane said. “We simply didn’t do what we had to do in order to win.”

The Piedmont coach admits it is a frustrating time right now for his team.

“In the last couple of years we have been able to win some games that we probably should not have won,” Lane said. “Now those close games are going the other way. We are in games that we should be winning but the breaks seem to go against us. We know we can play better than we have been. We just have to try to get it turned around this week.”

On paper, it seems Twiggs Academy, this week’s opponent, will be just what the doctor ordered for the ailing Cougars. The Trojans have clearly struggled this season and have been outscored 374-20.

“We certainly hope to get back on the right track this week,” Lane said.

“Twiggs is not very strong, and hopefully we can have a quick start and then let some of our starters get some rest.”

The Class AA state playoffs begin next week.
Kickoff Friday at Cougar Field is set for 7:30 p.m.