By Trey Hunter
Sports Editor
OKLAHOMA CITY – It was a tale of two halves for Piedmont.
The first half Jekyll, the second Hyde.
The Wildcats trailed by less than a touchdown going into halftime, but gave up 19 unanswered points in the final 24 minutes in a 32-7 loss to District 5A-2 co-leader Bishop McGuinness at Pribil Stadium Thursday night.
Piedmont (3-5, 2-3) gave up just one touchdown in the first two quarters, a two-yard run by Dominic Richardson (Jr.), and two field goals by Zach Schmit (Jr.), but that was it. The Cats also forced two punts, one leading to a 77-yard scoring drive capped by a three-yard rushing touchdown by Colby Matlock (Jr.), and entered halftime trailing 13-7, but with all the momentum a deficit can carry.
“We felt like our kids played really well, but extremely well in the first half,” Piedmont coach Trent Worley said after the game. “Our attitude is to compete and play hard and they did exactly that.
“But it’s a game of two halves, its not one half. So you have to come out with the same intensity and effort and focus that you started with. I’m not disappointed with the effort, just disappointed with the outcome.”
It was a rough start for the Cats coming out of halftime, giving up nine points in the first 1:11 of the third quarter. They gave up a safety on a blocked punt on their first drive and then a 67-yard touchdown return by Richardson on the ensuing kick. Richardson totaled 319 yards in the game including 102 on returns, 28 yards receiving and 189 more rushing.
Special teams was much of the difference in the game. McGuinness blocked two punts, drilled three field goals and totaled 119 yards on kick and punt returns. Piedmont finished with just 18 yards on two returns.
“I think that was the difference in the game honestly,” Worley said. “They made plays in that area and we just didn’t answer. A safety off a blocked punt and a kickoff that set them up in positive territory. Our defense played extremely well considering all of that.”
The Irish (7-1, 5-0), who racked up 308 yards offensively, scored twice more in the second half – a two-yard touchdown run by Richardson and a 28-yard field goal by Schmit. The Cats couldn’t answer offensively down the stretch, punting three more times after the safety with a turnover on downs and a fumble.
Piedmont totaled 186 yards of offense. Dylan Hampton (Jr.) went 4-for-21 for 85 yards through the air with an interception and rushed for 27 yards. Matlock led the team with 73 yards rushing with a score and a fumble.
The Wildcats now sit in fifth place in District 5A-2, trailing Woodward by 15 district points. They will look to rebound against Northwest Classen (0-8, 0-5) next Friday at Taft Stadium in Oklahoma City.
