Piedmont three-peats
- Updated: October 20, 2017
Bulldogs use dominant performance against Ohatchee to clinch its third straight region crown
Cardavion Myers has rushed for 1,300 yards and 19 touchdowns in his first season as Piedmont’s full-time quarterback. He went for 230 yards and three scores Friday night. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT – Cardavion Myers is going to the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game as a defensive back, but with Piedmont coach Steve Smith as the head coach, it might not be a stretch to see Myers playing some quarterback in the game when the situation calls for a quarterback run.
Certainly not after the way he has developed into a game-breaking running threat this season in his first year as the Bulldogs’ quarterback.
The senior signal caller rushed for 230 yards and three touchdowns Friday as the top-ranked Bulldogs clinched their third straight region championship through a 41-20 victory over No. 4 Ohatchee at the Field of Champions.
To see a gallery of photos from the game, visit www.bjfranklin.smugmug.com
Myers scored on runs of 36, 8 and 28 yards as the Bulldogs (8-1, 6-0) won their eighth in a row overall, completed their third straight undefeated region season and extended their winning streak against region opponents to 25 games. Four of his runs came on fourth down and all four moved the chains.
He has now rushed for 1,301 yards and 19 touchdown this season.
“He’s a great athlete,” Ohatchee coach Scott Martin said. “We knew we were going to have our hands full with trying to contain 2 (Lee Stanley), 10 (Myers) and 6 (Darien Bossie), in no certain order. We felt at times we had him hemmed up, but great athletes make great plays.”
“I just try to use my feet and my athletic abilities,” Myers said. “I just try to do what I can.”
Earlier in the day he was announced as an Alabama-Mississippi DB. The Alabama all-stars are expected to have two pro-style quarterbacks with big arms on their roster – Saraland’s Jack West, a Stanford commitment, and Sidney Lanier’s James “Bug” Foster, a Missouri commitment.
Still, with the skill set he has demonstrated this year, Myers could provide another threat, especially if Team Alabama needs another runner or wildcat.
As appealing as that may sound, Myers expects to remain a defensive back in the December all-star game. Smith, however, smiles at the notion of having another option.
“If you go back and look at the last couple years he’s been a playmaker for us on offense at opportune times,” Smith said. “He’s made a lot of plays the last couple years on the offensive side of the ball and they were really some big time. We knew he had playmaking ability. … I definitely think he’s a nice option to have in case of emergency.”
Of course, it’s a nice thing to talk about, but the Bulldogs’ focus is squarely on moving the train forward towards another Class 3A state championship.
They took a big step in that direction with the region championship and they sealed the deal Friday in dominant fashion.
The Bulldogs scored on six of their eight workable possessions – two others ended each half – and answered both of the Indians’ scores in the second half with touchdowns of their own. Stanley also scored three touchdowns and rushed for 118 yards.
Piedmont’s defense also played well, holding Ohatchee to 218 net yards, the bulk of which came on a 44-yard catch and run by Dominique Thomas in the final minute of the first half and a 66-yard Thomas TD burst in the fourth quarter.
At the point the Bulldogs had a 20-0 lead in the first half Ohatchee had less than 20 yards rushing. Piedmont ended the only extended drive the Indians put together with a long fourth-down sack by Logan Beadles and Matthew Thornton.
“It just shows everybody thought we were down and we aren’t down,” defensive lineman Logan Beadles said. “We still have great talent and are working harder than ever. We’ve got to prove to everybody we’re still here, we’re still the same Piedmont.”
Piedmont’s Logan Beadles (73) draw a bead on Ohatchee quarterback Grayson Alward. Beadles committed to Liberty University earlier this week. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
[table id=79 /]
Ohatchee 0 6 7 7 — 20
Piedmont 12 8 8 13 — 41
P – Lee Stanley 2 run (kick failed), 6:55 1Q
P – Cardavion Myers 36 run (pass failed), 2:49 1Q
P – Lee Stanley 17 run (T.J. Fairs run), 6:35 2Q
O – Domonique Thomas 44 pass from Grayson Alward (PAT failed), 0:33 2Q
P – Cardavion Myers 8 run (Layton New run), 6:19 3Q
O – Domonique Thomas 8 run (Gage Harrell kick), 2:09 3Q
P – Cardavion Myers 28 run (Brant Deerman kick), 8:56 4Q
O – Domonique Thomas 66 run (Gage Harrell kick), 8:35 4Q
P – Lee Stanley 1 run (kick failed), 3:24 4Q
Ohatchee’s Domonique Thomas (R) tries to elude Piedmont’s Logan Smith Friday night. Thomas scored all three of the Indians’ touchdowns, two on long plays. (Photo by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
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