By Mike Goodson/Sports Correspondent
For the past several seasons, the Class 3A, Region 6 contest between Piedmont and Glencoe has gone a long way in determining the region champion.
This year’s game was no different, although what the Bulldogs accomplished against the Yellow Jackets was more of an ambush than a shootout.
The Bulldogs amassed 648 yards in total offense on the way to a 44-26 victory at PHS.
Glencoe head coach Lee Ozmint took full responsibility for the loss.
“We were not well prepared. Piedmont has a fine team and they are always well prepared. Chase Wilson, Dalton Roberts and Pace Ozmint all played well, but we just have to do a better job getting ready for our opponents.”
Piedmont held Glencoe to 168 yards rushing and 122 passing for 290 yards in total offense.
Piedmont (4-0, 3-0) took an early 6-0 lead when Darnell Jackson took a handoff from Michael Hayes and raced 96 yards for the games first score. A two-point conversion attempt was stopped short of the goal but the Bulldogs led 6-0 with 4:58 to go in the first quarter.
Piedmont found the end zone again on their next possession, driving 80 yards in six plays to increase their lead to 12-0. Darnell Jackson capped the drive with a 15 yard run. Once again the try for two points failed but Piedmont led 12-0 with 11:43 to go in the first half.
The Glencoe defense stepped up on Piedmont’s next possession when Dalton Roberts intercepted a Hayes pass and ran it in from 31 yards out to cut the lead to 12-6 with nine minutes to go before intermission. Andrew Lang’s PAT attempt was blocked.
Forty-three seconds later, Pace Ozmint picked up a Bulldog fumble and ran untouched 41 yards to tie the score at 12-12 with 8:17 to go in the half. Lang was stopped short on a two-point conversion run.
Hayes’ eight-yard touchdown run gave Piedmont a 19-12 lead with 43 seconds to go in the first half. His scoring run capped a 4-play, 52-yard drive. Easton Kirk added the PAT.
Glencoe’s offense finally got untracked in the third quarter when quarterback Chase Wilson scored twice on runs of 2 and 54 yards. Lang converted both extra point attempts. Piedmont, however put together scoring drives of 67, 87 and 65 yards to take a commanding 38-26 lead into the final 12 minutes of play.
The Bulldogs added a touchdown in the fourth quarter score.
Darnell Jackson led the Bulldogs with 256 yards rushing on 17 carries. Hayes followed him with 140 yards on 20 carries. Hayes was also 8-of-14 passing for 141 yards and one touchdown.
Chase Wilson led Glencoe with 134 yards rushing on 22 carries. He was 7-of-18 in passing for 122 yards.
Pace Ozmint and Craig Barkley each had three catches.
Pace Oznint and Austin Bush each had 11 tackles, while Zack Cowley had 10.
Glencoe hosts cross-county rival Hokes Bluff on Friday (Sept. 25).