Taylor-made title

By EASportsToday.com
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Updated: December 1, 2016

Piedmont wins second straight 3A state title; QB Taylor Hayes named MVP after monster game

Piedmont coach Steve Smith walks back to his players with the blue championship trophy that will go nicely with the one he brought to them in 2015. (All photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)

By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today

AUBURN – They carried the bull’s eye on their back all season long as they marched their way to one specific goal but through it all two things remained constant for the Piedmont Bulldogs.

A stout defense and quarterback Taylor Hayes running — and throwing — behind a massive offensive line.

It all came together Thursday as the Bulldogs won their second straight Class 3A state title, third overall, and completed the first 15-0 season in school history with a 22-12 victory over Mobile Christian in Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium.

“We played to our strengths and did what we do best — playing good defense and controlling the ball,” Piedmont coach Steve Smith said after accepting the traditional blue trophy that goes to a state champion. “I really think it was huge for our kids to be able to finish this season off because each week we got everybody’s best shot.

“We were the team everybody was shooting for, but these guys got up every single week. It’s very difficult as a team to make it through a whole season without having that letdown game … but these guys withstood every challenge that was thrown our way this year.”

No matter what the Leopards (13-2) threw at the Bulldogs, they couldn’t stop Hayes. Doing whatever it took and leaving nothing to waste, the Piedmont quarterback ran for 239 yards on 38 carries and scored all three of the Bulldogs’ touchdowns.

He found the end zone on runs of 1, 2 and 2 yards and showed his power late in the first quarter when he put his head down, bowled over a would-be tackler and went for 65 yards before being run down by the Leopards. He also ran for a two-point conversion after his second touchdown right before the half with Mobile Christian’s goal line defense on the field that both Smith and Leopards coach Ronnie Cottrell agreed was the turning point in the game.

Playing in his final high school game on what he called “one of my favorite places in the world” and the field his father played on in college, Hayes had more yards rushing than Mobile Christian had total yards (203) on one fewer carry than the Leopards had plays in the game. He also played safety after the Leopards scored the first touchdown of the game.

Of course, he was the game’s MVP — for the second year in a row.

“This is my last game in blue and gold and I’d do whatever it takes to win another state championship and go back to back,” Hayes said. “If they need me on defense I was going to play it.”

The Piedmont defense appreciated the extra hand, but it seemed to have everything well in hand. The Bulldogs held the Leopards to a 3A state title game record-low 27 yards rushing — four yards net in the second half. They held Leopards’ 1,150-yard rusher Troy Young to a mere 15 yards.

Mobile Christian opened the scoring on a 42-yard touchdown pass from Cam Horne to Eric Poellnitz late in the first quarter, but beyond that the Bulldogs’ defense was stout. Horne completed 16 of 20 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns, but many of his completions were swing outs or possession-type passes.

“After the first quarter our front three really dominated their offensive line and our linebackers were able to get there and make plays like we usually do,” outside linebacker Austin Brazier said.

“They probably did the best job defensively against us in the first half,” Cottrell said. “We knew their defense was good, but they really played great today.”

On the other side of the ball, the power of Piedmont’s offensive line was measured in the third quarter when the Bulldogs held the ball for all but three offensive snaps. The drive that resulted in Hayes’ third touchdown covered 81 yards in 14 plays over 7 minutes, 5 seconds of elapsed time.

“We just knew we had to get it done right there,” right tackle Krae Keener said. “We are pretty big for a 3A, but we play as a unit and we all play for each other and we knew we had to get it done to help put the game away right there.”

Playing behind that line, Hayes said, “is a quarterback’s dream, a running back’s dream.” He was certain running back Lee Stanley, who ran for 76 yards, would say the same thing.

“Half the time I don’t get touched until four or five yards downfield,” Hayes said. “It’s been great having all five of those guys for two years I’ve been playing quarterback. That’s why I’ve been successful as an individual because of those guys, for sure.”

The undefeated season was Piedmont’s first since 1945 and the victory extended the state’s longest active winning streak to 25 games. They are only the third 3A school in AHSAA history to win three Super 7 state titles (Madison Academy, Pike County).

The Piedmont defense closes in on Mobile Christian quarterback Cam Horne. The Bulldogs set a Class 3A title game record by holding the Leopards to 27 yards net rushing.

[table id=32 /]
MC — Eric Poellnitz 42 pass from Cam Horne (kick blocked), 2:21 1Q
P — Taylor Hayes 1 run (Easton Kirk kick), 11:56 2Q
P — Taylor Hayes 2 run (Taylor Hayes run), 1:14 2Q
P — Taylor Hayes 2 run (Easton Kirk kick), 10:37 4Q
MC — Jordan Graddy 37 pass from Cam Horne (pass failed), 3:52 4Q

[table id=33 /]

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Piedmont: Taylor Hayes 38-239, Lee Stanley 14-76, Cardavion Myers 1-60; MC: Troy Young 7-15, Cam Horne 7-14, Jordan Graddy 4-3.

PASSING — Piedmont: Taylor Hayes 1-7-1, 39 yards; MC: Cam Horne 16-20-0, 176 yards, 2 TDs.

RECEIVING — Piedmont: Austin Brazier 1-39; MC: Eric Poellnitz 5-96, Darrell Gallmon 3-20, Samuel Ladner 3-15, Cam Alexander 2-10, Troy Young 2-(-2), Jordan Graddy 1-37.

TACKLES (SOLO-AST) — Piedmont: Cardavion Myers 6-1, Austin Brazier 4-2, Logan Beadles 3-2, Cobey McFry 3-0, Chase Bobbitt 3-0; Ethan Hearn 7-5, Troy Young 7-2, Carter Buzbee 4-3, Bentra Coleman 4-1, Andres Fox 4-1.

SACKS — Piedmont: Gavin Kircus 0.5, Matt Thornton 1.5.