Sports Editor Piedmont battled Putnam City North Friday night, but the Panthers’ prolific playmakers proved to be too much to handle.
Running back Amaurion Norment scored two touchdowns and Reece Moffett scored on a 57-yard reception from quarterback Robert Duke as PC North dropped the Wildcats 26-10.
“They’ve got some dynamic playmakers and when they’re out in space, it’s a problem,” Piedmont head coach Jeff Hall said.
PC North (1-1) led 13-0 at half and extended its lead to 20-0 on Moffett’s long score that came on third-and-long.
Piedmont answered when sophomore quarterback Josh Mars scored on a 2-yard run on 4th-and-goal to get Piedmont (1-1) on the board with 10:46 to play in the game.
Josh Mars plows in on 4th & goal to get Piedmont on the board. PC North 20, Piedmont 7 w/ 10:46 to play. #okpreps pic.twitter.com/qAkgs26qWl
— Blake Colston (@CBlakeColston) September 11, 2021
PHS had a chance to pull within six points with a stop and a score, but North put the game away on its next drive thanks to a 15-yard touchdown pass from Duke to Cameron Scott.
The game wasn’t without highlights for Piedmont, and most of them were supplied by senior defensive back Cole Riggs.
Riggs picked off a Panther pass at the goal line to snuff out a scoring chance in the first half and returned the opening kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown, but it was negated by a penalty.
“When I got here, (Cole) wasn’t sure if he was going to play football,” Hall said. “Now he’s in our fieldhouse more than anyone. He’s a good one.”
Piedmont’s offense moved the ball effectively and gained 19 first downs, but had miscues at inopportune times.
On their first drive of the night, the Wildcats controlled the ball for eight minutes, but came away without points after a penalty set them back.
“We did a lot of good things. We’ve got to finish drives,” Hall said. “We made some mistakes we can’t make.”
Talon Cope booted through a 27-yard field goal for PHS to cap the scoring on the last play of the game.
“Our kids fought hard and I’m really proud of them,” Hall said. “We’ll get better.”
Last season, North beat Piedmont 39-3.
Piedmont, which won by forfeit over El Reno last week, travels to Noble next Friday.
