Something special
- Updated: September 3, 2021
Estes, special teams play big role in Piedmont’s early-season showdown victory at Saks
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Austin Estes was bound and determined to bring a punt back for a touchdown Friday night.
When he came oh-so-close on his first return early in the second quarter and didn’t get all the way, it stiffened his resolve even more.
The speedy senior finally got his prize in the third quarter, bringing one back 57 yards for what became second-ranked Piedmont’s final touchdown in a 28-12 win over No. 10 Saks.
“I was going to (score),” Estes said. “I was either going to run him over or I was going to dive. (Not getting in the first time) made me seem like I was slow; dang, I must not be fast anymore. I got on the second one and said I’m getting it. It’s a mindset.”
There’s no question Estes is one of the fastest players in the county. He didn’t return any punts for a touchdown last season, but he brought two back the year before.
“Hopefully I can get some more if they don’t start watching film,” he said. “It was fun tonight.”
He also caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Jack Hayes the last time he touched the ball in the first half.
“He’s a playmaker and we try to find ways to get the ball in his hands,” Piedmont coach Steve Smith said. “Max (Hanson) is back there with him, he’s a playmaker as well. Tonight, early on in the game we had both those guys, along with Coleman (Reid), make a couple big catches that continued that first drive and we got the early lead on them.
“We feel really good about our guys and tonight all of them when they had opportunities to make plays they stepped up and made some big plays. Just a good job from our guys tonight making plays when their number was called.”
Earlier in the second quarter Estes brought back a punt 54 yards on the short side of the field and got knocked out of bounds inside the 20. Three plays later Hayes ran in from 13 yards out to put the Bulldogs ahead for good, 12-6.
Omarion Foster added to the special teams’ success when he blocked a punt in the second quarter.
“The punt return was good to us tonight,” Smith said. “One set up a score, one for a score and we had a block down there that we didn’t convert. I thought special teams were big.
“To come down here and win this game this early in the season against a team of (Saks’) caliber is a big win for our program.”
The game was even through the first quarter, with each team scoring on their opening drives and both missing the extra point. Then Piedmont scored 22 straight points to take control.
Saks hurt itself in its execution, but is an athletic team that will be in the mix the rest of the year. Remember, this region has finished in a three-way tie each of the last three years. The Wildcats did move the ball better in the second half, but not enough to overtake the lead.
“We came out and ran the ball effectively early on; we just had too many self-inflicted wounds tonight,” Saks coach Jonathan Miller said. “You can’t beat a quality opponent with all the self-inflicted wounds that we had, it’s as simple as that. We’ve got to do a better job playing.
“We’ve got the capability to be a good team, but right now we’re just struggling with too many things that we can fix. … We’ve just got to try to be the best version of Saks that we can be and right now we’re not that.”
Hayes finished the game 7-of-12 passing for 124 yards and the touchdown to Estes. He also rushed for 40 yards and a score.
Saks quarterback Sean Parnell rushed for 96 yards on 20 carries and Jalen McCants scored both of the Wildcats’ touchdowns.
Piedmont 28, Saks 12
| Piedmont | 6 | 14 | 8 | 0– | 28 |
| Saks | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0– | 12 |
P: Brayden Morgan 15 run (kick failed), 9:49 1Q
S: jalen McCants 13 run (run failed), 4:21 1Q
P: Jack Hayes 13 run (kick failed), 9:22 2Q
P: Austin Estes 40 pass from Jack Hayes (Parker Thornton pass from Jack Hayes), 1:59 2Q
P: Austin Estes 57 punt return (Jack Hayes run), 9:30 3Q
S: Jalen McCants 12 run (run failed), 0:52 3Q
| Pied (28) | Saks (12) | |
| 10 | 1st D | 12 |
| 27-108 | Rushing | 35-173 |
| 7-12-0 | C-A-I | 6-16-0 |
| 124 | Passing | 73 |
| 1-0 | Fum-lost | 3-0 |
| 2-34.7 | Punting | 4-29.8 |
| 2-22 | Pen-yds | 3-15 |
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