By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Tyriq Eaton’s wobbly pass floated through the air.
It wasn’t Eaton’s best effort and Piedmont’s defense had a chance for an interception that could help swing momentum the Wildcats’ way.
Instead, Guthrie’s Jaylen Chelf snatched it out of the air amid a host of Wildcats and turned up the field for a 26-yard touchdown reception as the No. 5 Blue Jays hammered PHS, 27-0, behind three touchdowns from Chelf Thursday night at F&M Bank Stadium.
“Obviously, we’ve got a lot of things to work on,” Piedmont coach Jeff Hall said.
Piedmont’s offense was limited to 54 total yards and just three first downs for the game as the Wildcats dropped to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in District 5A-2. The Blue Jays (5-0, 1-0) led 14-0 before Piedmont picked up its initial first down of the game midway through the second quarter.
The Blue Jays drove 76 yards for a touchdown on their opening possession and tacked on another score on their next possession when quarterback Hayden Calvert hit Chelf for a 35-yard touchdown reception with 1:18 left in the first quarter.
“The biggest thing defensively, without watching film, for us is that we just didn’t tackle very well,” Hall said. “That’s normally not us. We’ve got a lot to get better at and we’ll keep working.”
Piedmont’s defense settled in on Guthrie’s remaining possessions in the first half to keep the deficit at 14-0 at halftime, but the Wildcats opening drive of the second half stalled in three plays. Chelf’s final touchdown of the night on Eaton’s trick play put the dagger in any hopes of a comeback for Piedmont.
After gaining more than 800 yards rushing in the last two games, Piedmont’s flexbone attack was stuffed by the Blue Jays. Running back Israel Robles and Cannon Wood combined for just 36 yards on 13 attempts. Star sophomore Jayden Fuston ran four times for six yards.
“Without watching film, I can’t really say what the problem was, other than that they were really physical and there were times where we met that physicality and there were some where we didn’t,” Hall said.
Calvert added a 10-yard touchdown scamper with 8:40 left in the fourth quarter to cap the scoring for Guthrie, which looked like a state title contender in Class 5A.
“They were playing two or three different defenses against us tonight,” Hall said. “Offensively, they do a lot of stuff that makes you have to play very sound on defense.”
Piedmont plays at Lawton Eisenhower Friday night in a game that could have some early implications on the playoff race.
“There’s a good team in there,” Hall said while pointing to his locker room. “We’ve just got to keep getting better.”
