Bulldogs march on

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: November 12, 2016

Piedmont beats Colbert County to set a quarterfinals date with Weaver, extends state’s longest winning streak to 22 games

Piedmont quarterback Taylor Hayes outraces three Colbert County defenders to score one of his two touchdowns Friday. (All photos by B.J. Franklin/GuntHo Photos)

By Jason Katz
For East Alabama Sports Today

PIEDMONT (Nov. 11) — The Piedmont Bulldogs continued their push towards back-to-back state championships Friday night against a familiar foe, Colbert County.

Last season they faced the Indians in a Class 3A semifinal game that produced a nail-biting 14-0 win that advanced them to the title game in Tuscaloosa.

Many thought this year’s matchup could prove to be another strenuous affair for the Bulldogs, but the game Friday didn’t have nearly the drama.

Piedmont (12-0) this time won easily 38-21 at the Field of Champions in a game that was led by a usual cast of characters, quarterback Taylor Hayes and running back Lee Stanley.

Hayes rushed for 170 yards and went 9-for-15 passing with two touchdowns while Stanley had his usual stellar rushing element to the Bulldog offense with 191 yards with two touchdowns.

The matchup still came with its flaws though as the Bulldog offense was plagued by some situations that placed the defense in a few awkward positions.

“I was proud of the way they played even though we put our defense in some bad situations,” Piedmont coach Steve Smith said. “We had some bad drives on offense that made it harder on our defense, but they were good at making plays happen throughout the evening and keeping (Colbert County) out of the end zone.”

With the game well in hand midway through the third quarter — in part to a Gavin Kircus safety that deflated the Indians offense — Piedmont quickly went back to focusing on the little mistakes that can cost them down the road. Minor penalties and bobbled snaps meant for now the Bulldogs still have much to work on.

“We have to focus on eliminating the stupid things,” Smith said. Things on the offensive side like making bad plays and ending up in long-yardage situations and things on defense that give the other team 15 yards after the play is over, stuff like that.”

Piedmont still saw the natural offensive production of 395 rushing yards and 130 passing yards that severely outshined the much slower Indians defense.

The Bulldogs’ defense, meanwhile, was solid. With suffocating poise, they limited the Indians (9-3) to 51 rushing yards and only 141 yards in passing.

“I think we played our keys pretty well tonight on defense and kept them from making big plays,” Smith said. “They had a great running back, and we contained him well. We also contained the receivers well and kept them from really putting anything together.”

Now the attention will turn to another team the Bulldogs know well – the Weaver Bearcats. The teams played at the Field of Champions on Sept. 30, with the Bulldogs winning 49-15. Weaver will be in the third round of the playoffs for only the second time in school history.

With all four qualifiers from Region 5 advancing this week, it will create a cross-county matchup that will surely add to the excitement of the postseason.

“We have said all along that our region is strong and I think that with all four teams from Region 5 advancing tonight it proves that,” Smith said. “We expected some of the best teams in the north to be from our region, and that is the way it’s panned out.

“Weaver has a great team, and they are playing well right now. They have a few injuries, but I think they’re players have bounced back and been resilient. We are looking forward to getting Weaver at our place and not having to travel.”

The win extended the longest winning streak in the state to 22 games, a Piedmont school record.

Piedmont 38, Colbert County 21

Colbert Co. 0 0 0 21 — 21
Piedmont 6 9 16 7 — 38

P – Lee Stanley 2 run (kick failed), 8:56 1Q
P – Easton Kirk 26 FG, 7:24 2Q
P – Lee Stanley 5 run (kick failed), 0:31 2Q
P – Safety by Gavin Kircus, 6:57 3Q
P – Taylor Hayes 3 run (Easton Kirk kick), 6:34 3Q
P – Taylor Hayes 56 run (Easton Kirk kick), 2:06 3Q
P – Layton New 34 run (Easton Kirk kick), 4:02 4Q
C – Stephen Peters 3 pass from Malik Hamilton (kick failed), 5:26 4Q
C – Stephen Peters 1 run (conversion good), 3:08 4Q
C – Keandre Smith 3 run (kick good), 0:07 4Q