By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
It’s the first weekend in October, so you’re bound to hear a certain phrase hear and there around Oklahoma.
Hang half a hundred on ’em.
Piedmont did just that, knocking off Lawton Ike 50-0 for its first district win of the season and to keep Class 5A playoff hopes alive as the stretch run begins.
The Cats’ physicality at the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball was the shining light for coach Trent Worley and his staff. His team racked up 356 yards rushing on 39 carries – an astounding 9.1 yards per carry – including 228 yards from Colby Matlock (Jr.), who with Dylan Hampton (Jr.) and Bo Hardy (Jr.) have become a three-headed monster in Piedmont’s backfield.
“I love it back there with those guys,” Matlock said after the game. “Bo gets in there and pounds it out, which leaves it open for me to make some moves and find some room. I love Dylan back there because it really opens up our option game, too.
“I’m definitely comfortable with them. We’ve been playing together our whole lives so it’s good, we like it.”
Joey Mars (So.) got in on the action first, however. Last week’s starter at quarterback – due to an injury to Hampton – rushed three times for 29 yards on Piedmont’s opening drive, including a three-yard score to spark-plug the rest of the night.
The Wildcats (2-4, 1-2) rolled to a 23-0 halftime lead after Mars’ score. Matlock scored his first of two touchdowns on a 12-yard dash before a 10-yard scoring run by Hampton. Justus Flores (Sr.) drilled a 37-yard field goal to cap the first 30 minutes.
Piedmont scored twice out of halftime, including a 20-yard touchdown pass from Hampton to Jack Chester (Sr.) and Hadlock’s second touchdown, a 33-yard run for a 37-0 lead. Zaire Bartee (Jr.) made it 43 unanswered points for the Cats offense with a five-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter.
The team’s defense also clicked on all cylinders.
The defensive unit forced three turnovers, including a 36-yard fumble return for a touchdown by Braden Russell (Sr.) to seal the game in the final minutes. Bartee and Braden Culp (Sr.) each intercepted passes in the second half as well, both plays led by a strong push to the quarterback up front.
Altogether the Cats gave up 252 yards, but allowed the Eagles (1-5, 1-2) to run just 43 plays while forcing three turnovers on downs and two punts.
“Our point of emphasis was just to play football in a physical manner and play hard regardless of the score or who is in front of us,” Worley said after his post-game speech to the team. And I’m proud of the work we’ve put in, especially the last two weeks. You can see that effort on offense and defense.
“It really was a good night for the Wildcats.”
Piedmont hosts Guymon (0-5, 0-3) next week at 7 p.m.
