FIELD OF CHAMPIONS — It was the best of times. It was the worst of —

Maybe not.

Let's face it. It is the best of times for the Piedmont football program.
Not only does Piedmont sport a super team again this year (they throttled Susan Moore 40-14 Friday night), their stadium renovation has everyone talking.

Friday's contest was the culmination of a year-long school and community effort to completely change the face of Piedmont athletics. The Field of Champions was overhauled to include new home bleachers, a video screen-covered scoreboard, and, yes, artificial turf.

Underneath the stands are new locker rooms for not only football, but baseball and softball, too. The press box, ticket gate, scoreboard, and columns entering the stadium are all lined with decorative brick.

And there is more renovation to come. Tractors, wheelbarrows, concrete blocks and PVC pipes strewn about signify that new baseball and softball fields are nearing completion.

Friday night's Class 3A Region 6 battle was the must-see game of the week. During a pre-game ceremony, public officials, former players and their families, and the head of the Alabama High School Athletic Association were publicly recognized. A TV crew even filmed their post-game show on the turf in the south end zone in the shadows of the swanky scoreboard.

After a pre-kickoff video highlight film the likes one might see at a college game, the Bulldogs wasted little time showing out for the overflowing crowd. Four plays into its first possession, Piedmont had rung up a 7-0 lead. Junior Jamie Major's 12-yard scamper through the middle of the Susan Moore defense capped the four-play, 76-yard drive.

After failed alternating possessions, Piedmont fumbled on punt return. Susan Moore recovered and took advantage. A 58-yard touchdown pass three plays later from senior Brett Glass to senior Dylan Sloan tied the score at 7-7 late in the first quarter.

Piedmont scored nine plays later to re-take the lead. The score came on senior quarterback Chris Strott's seven-yard scamper off right tackle. With eight minutes left in the second quarter, Piedmont led 13-7. The point-after attempt failed.

Within two minutes, Piedmont would score again. After the Bulldog defense forced another fourth-down play, senior Landon Pruitt returned the subsequent punt 55 yards for another Bulldog touchdown, giving Piedmont a 19-7 lead.

Sparked by an interception by Major, who has been moved to safety this season, Piedmont was on the move again. Six plays later, senior Dalton Riffey collected Strott's pass, then just got his toes inbounds for the score. The grab and the two-point conversion put the Dogs up 27-7.

Two plays later, Susan Moore receiver Sloan connected on another long touchdown – this one from 70 yards out, inching his team closer. Piedmont would take a 27-14 lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs dominated the second half, pinning Susan Moore in their own territory until late in the game.

Special teams played a key part in Piedmont's success, as Coach Smith pointed out after the game.

“Our kickoff coverage was outstanding tonight,” he said. “We pinned them inside the 30 on every kickoff. Punt coverage team was great. We got a couple of turnovers from our special teams recovering fumbles.”

In the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs pulled many of their starters and only managed a 24-yard field goal. Terry's boot completed the scoring at 40-14.