Caden Hendren’s interception return for a touchdown put the game away on senior night, and a senior kicker, Preston Fansher, hit three field goals in the Piedmont Wildcats win over the Noble Bears Friday.
Piedmont took the lead on a 21-yard field goal in the fourth quarter of what had been a seesaw battle at F&M Stadium. Then the defense of the Wildcats got tough. Hendren intercepted the Bears and returned it for a touchdown, making the score 29-20, the final score. Fansher waited until the point after attempt to miss one.
The Wildcats moved the ball into field goal range to take the lead on runs by Joey Mars and Hendren. And Fansher hit a 36-yard field goal to tie it.
Hendren had a 25-yard run down the right side line with about 4:30 remaining. Piedmont had the ball at the 25-yard line of Noble.
The Wildcats held Noble on downs to open the second half, and quarterback Bo Phelps remained at the helm. But the offense fumbled the ball at the Noble 44-yard line on their first play of the second half.
With 6 minutes left in the third quarter, Piedmont had the ball on the Noble 35-yard line. But a wild pitchout to the right ended in a loss of 2 yards and the drive ended in a punt.
With 34 seconds to go in the third quarter, the Wildcats converted a fourth down with 2 yards to go.
The defense made a stand with a sack by Joey Mars of Noble’s quarterback, Colin Fisher.
Before halftime, Caden Hendren’s kickoff return after a Noble TD put the Wildcats up 17 to 13 with about 5:45 seconds left in the second quarter.
Brock DeTar has scored a touchdown for the Wildcats, and kicker Preston Fansher converted a field goal in the first quarter.
But Noble has been able to find weaknesses in the defense of the Wildcats, who have given up big plays, including a touchdown pass in the first quarter. Noble’s L.T. Taylor has caught two touchdown passes.
Piedmont had the ball on the Noble 42-yard line with 15 seconds left in the first half when quarterback Bo Phelps threw an interception to Noble’s Brandon Harper at the 5-yard line.
Friday was also themed as western night for the students. Senior night photo collages of players were displayed on poster boards on the home side of the stadium.
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