Sept. 2, 2013

Bulldogs wallop Warriors, 57-13

By SCOTT WRIGHT

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CENTRE — Piedmont coach Steve Smith wouldn’t go so far as to say Friday’s 57-13 final over his alma mater was bittersweet, but he admitted the ride home would feel a little different than most others.

“You want to win no matter when or where you play, but this is a special place to me. I have a lot of great memories here from my childhood,” Smith said after the game. “But Piedmont has been great to us and we’re having a lot of fun playing football at Piedmont right now.”

Smith’s players had plenty of fun in the first half, turning four Cherokee County fumbles into touchdowns and jumping out to a 21-7 lead by the end of the first quarter on touchdown runs by Denard Spears, Dreek Thompson and Darnell Jackson.

The Warriors’ only score of the first half came on a 75-yard pass from T.J. Hill to Marquise Walker midway through the first that tied the game at 7-7.

Smith’s offense-by-committee strategy continued to bear fruit as the game progressed. In the second quarter, Piedmont extended the lead on a 20-yard pass from quarterback Tyler Lusk to C.J. Savage after a Cherokee County turnover deep inside its own territory.

After another Warrior fumble on the ensuing drive, the Bulldogs quickly scored again on a 15-yard pass from Ty Sparks to Savage. Thompson added another score before halftime from 10 yards out, extending the lead to 42-7.

Smith said his players look forward to the annual contest with the team from a few miles north on Highway 9, even though Cherokee County hasn’t defeated the Bulldogs since 2009—the year the Warriors won the Class 4A state title and Smith’s team took home the Blue Trophy in Class 3A.

“I’m on the Piedmont sideline now,” Smith said. “This has been a big rivalry for many years and you have to put all the personal feelings aside when you get out there.”

Piedmont went three-and-out on the opening drive of the second half. After the Warriors followed suit, the Bulldogs’ Jackson broke into the Warrior secondary and jetted 85 yards for a touchdown that stretched the lead to 48-7 after a missed point-after try.

Sophomore running back Trevaughn Carpenter extended the Piedmont lead to 54-7 on a 34-yard run with 2:01 remaining in the third quarter.

Cherokee County running back Ty Green broke free around right end early in the fourth to close out the scoring for the Warriors.

Piedmont’s final points of the night came on a 29-yard field goal by Exavyer Jackson with 4 minutes left in the game.

Smith was as diplomatic as possible after coaching his team to the lopsided win.

“I can tell you this, I hope they win the next nine ball games and win their region and make the playoffs,” Smith said. “I have a lot of respect for these kids and these coaches. Tonight was our night. We played really well and got some turnovers that gave us a short field in the first half and we got some big plays out of our offense.”

Cherokee County begins play in Class 4A Region 5 Friday night against Anniston at Bobby Joe Johnson Field in Centre. Piedmont, ranked No. 3 in Class 3A, hosts region foe Ashville.