Bulldogs move forward
- Updated: November 11, 2022
Piedmont rushes for more than 400 yards and 5 touchdowns in beating Colbert County in the Class 3A playoffs; Gordo is next
Special to East Alabama Sports Today
LEIGHTON – Piedmont took another step forward in defense of their Class 3A state title crown Friday night as head coach Steve Smith unleashed a powerful ground assault that churned out more than 400 yards and five touchdowns in a 42-20 second-round victory over Colbert County.
Quarterback Jack Hayes rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns and moved closer to two more of the state’s all-time passing records as he completed 10 of 16 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.
The third-ranked Bulldogs (10-2) advanced to the state quarterfinals for an eighth straight year — and 14th time in 16 seasons. They host No. 2 Gordo (11-1) at the Field of Champions Friday night. The teams have never met on the gridiron before.
Cody Holloway added 129 yards rushing on eight carries, including a 46-yard touchdown.
Piedmont finished with 517 yards offense, including 414 rushing.
Piedmont’s win capped the trifecta for Class 3A Region 6. Geraldine knocked off a top 5 ranked opponent for the second consecutive week, bouncing top-ranked Mars Hill Bible 17-14 and Sylvania outlasted No. 10 Madison Academy 48-45 in overtime.
Colbert County (7-5) stunned the Bulldogs early, forcing a punt and then scoring on its first offensive play with a 73-yard run by Natarruean Hampton, but Piedmont answered on its next two drives.
Hayes capped a 10-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown. After the Indians fumbled on the kickoff, Piedmont scored in two plays, the last a 1-yard Hayes run.
Colbert County tied it early in the second quarter on a 2-yard TD run by Demetrius Jones, but the Bulldogs again answered on their next two drives. Holloway’s 46-yard run and a 17-yard TD pass from Hayes to Ish Bethel gave Piedmont a 28-14 lead.
The touchdown pass extended Hayes’ career touchdown total to 154.
Piedmont scored on its first two drives of the second half, as well. Hayes had a 13-yard TD run and Dontavious Jordan scored on a 3-yard run to make it 42-14.
Hampton also caught a 17-yard touchdown pass with 5 minutes remaining, but Trevor Pike blocked the extra point. Hampton had 143 yards rushing.
This is the eighth consecutive season Piedmont has won 10 or more games. The Bulldogs are now 17-6 in second-round playoff games and have won 14 of their last 15 postseason games.
Hayes entered the game as the all-time AHSAA career leader in touchdown passes (153), total offense (13,774), and touchdowns accounted for (208). He has touchdown tosses to 20 different receivers over the course of the last five seasons. He passed Pinson Valley’s Bo Nix for second on the all-time completions list. He is 224 yards shy of JaMarcus Russell’s state record for passing yards.
Smith won’t get much rest going forward. After the required AHSAA coaches meeting Saturday morning, the Bulldogs’ head coach will join the 30th-year reunion of Jacksonville State’s 1992 Division II national championship team. Smith was a graduate assistant with the Gamecocks that year.
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