By Trey Hunter / Sports Editor
MIDWEST CITY – Piedmont may not have pulled off an upset Friday night, but they certainly left Jim Harris Stadium battle-tested.
The Wildcats kept it within two scores for 30 minutes but ultimately dropped their second straight district loss, falling to two-time defending state champion Carl Albert 34-7.
For two quarters Piedmont matched the Titans’ speed and athleticism with grit and toughness. The Cats forced Carl Albert to punt three times in its first seven possessions with Baylor Hendren also picking off Titan quarterback Ben Harris (So.). Ultimately it wasn’t enough, but for coach Trent Worley it paints a picture of how his team is developing.
“One of the most encouraging things I’ve seen is that we’re becoming more physical,” Worley said after the game. “We’re playing extremely hard and we’re becoming smarter in the way we play. We’re taking an attitude of playing the game the right way with passion and aggressiveness.
“Credit to our kids. They could have folded tonight, but I had complete faith they weren’t going to. Because they’re battlers.”
DeJuana Mcarthur (Sr.) and Javion Hunt (So.) carried the load for Carl Albert, tallying 168 yards on the ground with four scores. Hunt’s first of three touchdowns led to a 7-0 after the Titans’ first drive. Outside of the the backfield duo’s stellar performance, however, Carl Albert was nearly stymied.
Harris, who averaged over 300 yards passing and three touchdowns per game last season with just two interceptions, totaled only 169 yards with one score and the pick to Hendren. His touchdown strike to Jayveion Traylor (Jr.) extended the lead to 14-0 in the first.
Bo Hardy (Jr.) and the Cats answered and cut the deficit back to a score late in the quarter. Hardy rushed for 51 yards on two plays, including a 10-yard touchdown run to cap a three-play. 63-yard drive. However, seven was all Piedmont would put on the board.
Hardy and Joey Mars (So.) – who started at quarterback in place of Dylan Hampton (Jr.) – sparked the Cats offense as much as they could, combining for 102 yards on 20 carries. It was their effort Worley wants his squad to emulate.
“They are a microcosm of our team,” Worley said. “They’re not scared of anything or any moment. They’re the perfect example of who we are right now as a group. The way they play is how we want all our guys to play. And if they do, everyone will follow suit.”
Hunt popped his second touchdown in from four yards out to give the Titans a 21-7 lead before halftime. Mcarthur got in the end-zone with an 18-yard score late in the third quarter before Hunt’s final touchdown capped the game midway through the fourth.
Piedmont hasn’t passed the test yet, but they have tested the waters. Having faced a gauntlet of El Reno, Weatherford, Noble, Guthrie and now Carl Albert, Worley thinks his team is ready for the second phase of the season.
“Credit to our schedule – we’ve played some really good football teams and we’ve tested tested ourselves. I think the first five games has really prepared us for the second half of our season in terms of how competitive those teams that we’ve played are. The first five games help because we’re now ready for the last five.”
The first of the last five is next Friday at home against Lawton Ike. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
