By Blake Colston
Contributing Writer
Piedmont capped its ultra-successful 2019 home slate with a resounding 51-0 win over hapless Northwest Classen Friday night at F&M Bank Stadium.
Davontae Pickard and Colby Matlock ran wild in the first half en route to a 38-0 lead at intermission.
The Wildcats defense limited the Knights to less than 40 total yards of offense as PHS put another strong performance together to improve to 7-2.
The Knights (2-7, 0-6) put up little resistance.
Piedmont scored on its first two offensive plays of the night and had its starters resting by the third quarter.
“We don’t care who our opponent is, our goal every week is to get better,” Piedmont first-year head coach Jeff Hall said following his team’s win. “Our starters knew their time on the field this week would be limited, but they got better and that’s what’s important to us.”
Piedmont (7-2, 5-1) assured itself of a postseason berth with the win – its third in four seasons – and can finish as high as second in the district with a win in its regular season finale next week at Woodward. If the ‘Cats handle the Boomers, they’ll clinch a home game in the postseason.
And the Wildcats have no plans of turning in pads anytime soon.
Hall’s clock-controlling flexbone offense combined with a stingy defense has already notched, perhaps, the biggest win in program history at No. 1 Carl Albert earlier this season, and there’s a strong belief inside the program that a deep postseason run could be around the corner.
“People ask me a lot if our kids believe, and I don’t think there’s any doubt that our kids believe they can go win a state championship,” Hall said. “They know they can go deep into the playoffs, absolutely.”
Hall’s unique offense brought to PHS from Yukon is the catalyst for inspiring that confidence during one of the most successful seasons in program history.
The flex option takes years to perfect, but the Wildcats, led by quarterback Dylan Hampton and backs Davontae Pickard and Colby Matlock, are ahead of schedule in terms of production despite a loss to Bishop McGuinness last week.
The option offense can put up points – 49 against Guthrie, 52 against Lawton Ike – and it can play keep away from an opposing offense like it did in the 10-6 win over the top-ranked Titans.
The most challenging part of running the offense, Hall said, is facing a new defensive approach each week.
“There are so many different ways people our offense,” Hall said.
“The more opportunities we have to face different defenses, the better it will be in the long-run for us.”
Piedmont will see another new defense at Woodward Friday and can’t afford a slip-up or the Wildcats risk falling to fourth in district and heading on the road to open the postseason.
“As much as I say we’ve gotten better every week, we’ve had an opportunity to see Woodward every week and they’ve gotten better, too,” Hall said.
“We’re going to have to go into practice this week, make sure we get better and put our best foot forward.”
