9/21/04 Piedmont runs over Encinal
In a contest dominated by the running game, the Piedmont High School football team pounded its way to a 33-8 victory over visiting Encinal last Friday night.
Behind senior tailbacks Austin Pugh, Bryan Silver and Jeff Sweet, the Highlanders rushed the ball 50 times for 190 yards.
After Piedmont's first drive of the game resulted in a punt after three plays, Encinal's offense took the field in hopes of drawing first blood. The Jets did just that, as quarterback Antoine Young busted down the field for an 80-yard touchdown run on Encinal's first play from scrimmage.
Encinal then pulled off a fake extra point, as backup Quarterback Jaryd Manisuban reached the end zone to give his team an 8-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Jets, this was the only scoring they produced for the rest of the game as they had trouble establishing their offense for the remainder of the night.
However, the Highlanders were not fazed as they responded with an explosive play of their own. On the ensuing kickoff, junior Mike Wasserman broke off a 63-yard kick return down to the Encinal 25-yard line. Four plays later, Piedmont quarterback Clark Lammers connected with receiver Tommy Carson for a 21-yard touchdown pass with 8:13 remaining in the first quarter.
Piedmont's subsequent attempt for two points failed as Lammers was sacked behind the line of scrimmage to make the score 8-6.
Later in the quarter, Piedmont linebacker Phillip Estrada recovered an Encinal fumble and the Highlanders capitalized. Piedmont executed a 10-play, 44-yard drive, which concluded with Sweet's first of two touchdowns, a run from 2 yards out.
This formula worked again for Piedmont, as it turned yet another turnover into a touchdown. This time, an errant pitch from Young was recovered by Piedmont on the Encinal 42. The Highlanders' bruising running game was showcased during this drive, as they ran the ball 10 times and scored a touchdown to make the score 19-8.
The Jets nearly came back with 4:44 left in the first half and gave the Highlanders a scare as they marched down near the Piedmont 20 but could not convert a fourth-down pass attempt.
Piedmont went into the locker room at halftime leading 19-8 and seemingly in control of the game, but Encinal was not out of it yet.
The Jets started out the second half with a promising drive that got to midfield in just three plays, yet their momentum was crushed on the fifth play of the drive.
Encinal running back Cyrus Grant fumbled the ball on a sweep to the right, and Piedmont safety Jon Cox scampered all the way down to the Jets' 8-yard line before being pushed out of bounds by Encinal receiver Mario Hackett. Three plays later, Sweet pounded it in from a yard out to extend Piedmont's lead to 26-8.
With 1:43 left in the third, the Jets mustered up another threatening drive that got deep into Piedmont territory but were shut down on yet another fourth-down attempt. This put the nail in the coffin for the Jets as they were unable to cash in for the rest of the game.
