By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
LAWTON – Piedmont wanted to be the more physical team Friday night.
As defensive end Talan Owen dragged down Lawton Eisenhower quarterback Zaire Walton for a sack and fumble on the final play of the first half, the Wildcats’ had sent their message loud and clear.
They were.
Owen logged two sacks and two forced fumbles while Israel Robles ran for 198 yards and three touchdowns as Piedmont dismantled Eisenhower 56-6 at Cameron Stadium
“The games that we’ve played since I’ve been here, when we’re the more physical team we’ve won,” head coach Jeff Hall said.
Piedmont roughed up Eisenhower from the opening drive. The Wildcats pass rush forced Walton to throw early and errant on a fourth down attempt from near midfield. Walton’s pass landed well short of its intended target, handing the ball over to Piedmont’s offense with good starting field position.
“That’s something we’ve stressed since last year, making plays and getting our defense off the field,” Hall said. “We’ve been better at it this year.”
Quarterback Josh Mars cashed in on the short field with a one-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left in the first quarter. Piedmont (5-2, 2-1) tacked on touchdowns on its next two drives with Mars scoring from nine yards out and Robles crashing in from one yard away.
Even with a commanding lead, the Wildcats defense never let up. They held Ike (1-6, 0-3) to just 34 total yards in the first half and accounted for 10 tackles for loss on the night to go with three interceptions. Eisenhower started 0 for 5 on fourth down conversions.
“We just outfought them physically,” said Cannon Wood, who starts at middle linebacker and running back. “They didn’t want to step up to the plate anymore.”
Piedmont increased its lead to 34-0 when Wood busted up the middle untouched for a 26-yard score with 3:03 left until half. By then it was clear Piedmont could name its score.
The Wildcats had four, one-play touchdown drives. Wood broke free for a 60-yard dash on Piedmont’s first play of the second half and on the ‘Cats’ ensuing drive, Robles ran 26 yards to put Piedmont in front 42-0. Robles added a 61-yard touchdown later in the third quarter.
“With their defense, they put everyone on the line of scrimmage,” Hall said. “Once you get past the line of scrimmage then there’s nobody there.”
Wood finished with 162 yards and two scores as Piedmont’s offense found its rhythm again one week after a 27-0 loss to Guthrie.
“It felt great for things to open up a little bit tonight. We couldn’t have done it without the o-line and the rest of the guys around us,” Wood said. “We have to thank them for this.”
Mars finished 2 of 4 passing for 74 yards. Kolten Luschen had one catch for 51 yards and Jayden Fuston added a 23-yard catch. Mars and Luschen narrowly missed connecting on another long completion for a touchdown late in the first half.
Defensive back Lane Whitworth picked off two passes and nearly came down with a third as Piedmont’s unrelenting defense held Eisenhower out of the end zone until late in the fourth quarter. Grant Myatt added a diving pick in the final minutes to put the final exclamation point on a dominant performance.
With three games remaining in the regular season, Piedmont is in good position to make its fifth consecutive postseason appearance.
“Tonight boosted everyone’s confidence,” Wood said.
Piedmont has a bye next week before returning to the field against Shawnee Friday, Oct. 21.
“We’ve got some banged up kids that need to heal,” Hall said. “We’re going to take a lot of the next week off and show up next Monday ready to work.”
