Oct. 30, 2010

Cherokee County sophomore running back D.J. McAllister carries the ball during the Warriors' 42-9 loss to Piedmont at the Field of Champions Friday night. PHOTO BY DOUG BORDEN

Piedmont wins battle of defending state champs, 42-9

By Roy Mitchell

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FIELD OF CHAMPIONS — “A lot of people said Jacob would never walk again,” explained Piedmont football coach Steve Smith. “A lot of people said he would never live.”

Not only had a car accident left Piedmont High School student Jacob Prince in dire shape, it also killed two sisters, both friends of his. In the two years since, Jacob has made an amazing recovery.

“Jacob Prince is proof that God is good, and He’s in control and can still perform miracles,” Smith said after his Bulldogs defeated defending Class 4A state champion Cherokee County, 42-9, here Friday night.

Prince started the season-ending game at wide receiver for Piedmont, the defending Class 3A champions.

“For him to be able to get out here and start the game and play that first snap really meant a lot to him,” said Smith. “We’re very proud to have him as part of our team and our community.”

In the game, the Bulldogs tallied a touchdown on their first possession of the night with a 26-yard sprint by senior Mookie Jackson.

Two possessions later, the Bulldogs faced a fourth-and-inches at their own 36-yard line, and though up only 7-3, decided to go for the first down. When quarterback Chris Strott barreled into the Warrior defenders behind the line of scrimmage, the visiting fans began to erupt, but the junior quarterback refused to go down, eventually breaking free down the right side, gaining 18 yards and the first down.

Three plays later, senior Jamaal Johnson scored from three yards out.
In their last possession of the half, Piedmont crossed the goal line again on a 16-yard scamper by Strott. The junior would also connect on all three Bulldog extra point attempts in the first half.

Centre, meanwhile, accumulated only one first down in the entire first quarter, but they did register points. Shortly after Warrior junior Patrick Lowe recovered a Piedmont fumble, Centre scored three with senior Isaac Jones’s 26-yard field goal.
In the second quarter, junior Landon Pruitt’s interception snuffed out a Centre drive into Piedmont territory, and the end of the half forced CCHS to settle for Jones’s second field goal of the night, a 39-yard boot, making the halftime score 21-6 in favor of the home-standing Bulldogs.

CCHS’s lone offensive score of the second half arrived in their first possession, a 55-yard drive which culminated in Jones’s third field goal of the night, a 30-yarder.

While the Warriors offense and the temperature cooled, Piedmont stayed red hot, pulling away in the second half. Johnson continued the Bulldog scoring barrage with a third-quarter, nine-yard touchdown reception.

On its next possession, Piedmont struck again as quarterback Cade Bradley found senior wideout Noah Willis on a 61-yard touchdown strike.

With 3:45 remaining in the game, Piedmont’s famous air horn, known to sound on Bulldog scores, had quit working by the time Jackson scampered 63 yards, returning an interception for a touchdown. Three more successful second-half Strott PAT’s contributed to the final score, 42-9.

In the first round of the playoffs, Piedmont (9-1, 8-0) will host Winston County Friday. Cherokee County (5-5, 4-3) travels to Deshler.