FIELD OF CHAMPIONS – A dominant second quarter performance helped the Piedmont Bulldogs cruise past visiting Cherokee County here Friday night. The 45-21 victory was Steve Smith's 150th as a head coach.

For a little over a quarter, Class 4A Cherokee County stood toe-to-toe with the No. 3-ranked team in Class 3A.

Piedmont first reached the end zone on sophomore C.J. Savage's 69-yard reception from Cade Bradley. The catch ended a three-play, 70-yard drive. Senior Dillon Terry kicked the extra point. Savage totaled seven catches for 110 yards.

After failed alternating possessions, Cherokee County tied the score. Wade Griffith's 16-yard reception culminated a four-play, 56-yard march. Junior kicker Eric Burgess added the point after. With the score knotted at 7-7 with 10:56 left in the second quarter, Warrior fans held hope of going the distance with the highly–touted Bulldogs.

Then the dam burst. The Bulldogs flooded the Warriors with 38 unanswered points over the next two quarters.

With 6:20 left in the half, Bulldog junior Exavyer Jackson barreled in from two yards out. Terry's PAT gave Piedmont a 14-7 advantage.

Three minutes later the 'Dogs scored again when Bradley’s sneak up middle on a short yardage play turned into a 72-yard sprint to the end zone.

“The play that changed the night was the quarterback sneak,” Coach Smith said after the game. “We were just trying to get a first down. [Bradley] just broke for a long one. After that it just kind of steamrolled.”

On the next Bulldog possession, Terry tacked on a 32-yard field goal. Going into the half, Piedmont led 24-7.

In the second half, Piedmont's point parade continued. With 9:11 left in the third, freshman Darnell Jackson's one-yard plunge put the Bulldogs up 31-7.

With moves like Michael, Jackson scampered in for another touchdown on Piedmont's next possession. The 63-yard run around left end concluded a five-play, 73-yard drive. Terry's kick padded Piedmont's lead at 38-7.

Senior Bulldog Austin Bishop recovered a fumble to set up another touchdown. On the following play from scrimmage, the Bulldogs tallied their final score of the night. Sophomore Derek Thompson rushed 44 yards around left end. Terry's PAT pushed the lead to 45-7 with 2:49 left in the third quarter.

Junior back Ty Green scampered in from 25 and five yards respectively, adding two Warrior scores in the final quarter. Burgess connected on both extra points.
Green led the Warriors with 104 yards on 14 carries.

Smith commented on collecting his 150th win in his 210th career game against his alma mater.

“I've been surrounded by a lot of great coaches, both at Cedar Bluff and at Piedmont,” he said. “The most important thing is that I've been blessed to have some great players at both stops, kids who were willing to put the team's success in front of their own.”

One of Smith's great players, Christian Cantrell--an integral part of Piedmont's 2009 state championship team--died in an auto accident earlier in the week. The team honored his memory with a ceremony before the game.

Band members released blue and gold balloons amid the silence of the overflowing crowd. As the balloons disappeared into the unknown, the funeral home parking lot across the street was full for Cantrell's viewing.

Cherokee County travels to Alexandria Friday night while Piedmont journeys to Ashville.