Making the plays

Big plays on defense, special teams plus Austin’s running and flare help Piedmont overcome Gordo, reach the Class 3A semifinals.

By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today

PIEDMONT — Piedmont’s Cole Austin won the Patrick Mahomes style award Friday.

Teammates Bentley Chandler, Carson Sanders and Chase Kirkpatrick made huge plays.

It all went into the brew that boiled up Piedmont’s 28-20 victory over Gordo on the Field of Champions in the AHSAA Class 3A quarterfinals.

The second-ranked Bulldogs (13-0) earned their 10th semifinal appearance in 11 years and another road shot at top-ranked Mars Hill Bible (13-0) in the semifinals. Mars Hill eliminated No. 4 Geraldine 42-0 on Friday.

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