By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Piedmont’s football program has entered uncharted territory.
The Wildcats are headed to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive time – the longest streak in program history – after a come-from-behind 24-16 win over Woodward Friday night at F&M Bank Stadium.
“That speaks to the classes that have come before and this senior group and what they’ve done,” head coach Jeff Hall said of the accomplishment. “(These seniors) didn’t have to buy in three years ago when I got here, but they chose to buy in.”
Piedmont (5-5, 4-3), fourth place in District 5A-2, will travel to face No. 1 seed Lawton Mac in the opening round of the playoffs. The Highlanders lost to Ardmore 41-40 Friday, but still won the district title via tiebreaker.
Friday’s win was anything but easy for PHS. Woodward led 14-7 at half and kept Piedmont in poor field position for a majority of the game.
The Wildcats needed Talon Cope‘s 33-yard field goal with 1:48 to play to take a 17-16 lead. Josh Mars added a 1-yard rushing touchdown to seal the win after a Tyson Benford interception set up Piedmont at the Boomers 2-yard line.
Cope earlier in the fourth quarter had dropped a punt snap in the end zone that resulted in a safety that put Woodward ahead 16-14 with 7:03 to play.
Cope said he was down after the miscue, but his teammates and coaches reminded him they’d probably need him again. They were right and Cope delivered.
“I blocked out all the sounds. I wasn’t really paying attention to the crowd or the defense. I looked up, I looked down and then I kicked it,” Cope said. “I knew it was good. I could feel it right after I kicked it. It felt great.”
Talon Cope hits a 33-yard FG to put Piedmont in front 17-16 w/ 1:48 to go. #okpreps pic.twitter.com/CPZG0vQ7NZ
— Blake Colston (@CBlakeColston) November 6, 2021
Cope said it was the biggest kick of his career.
“I can’t think of anything close,” he said.
Cope was one of several Piedmont players to come up big in the second half.
Kolten Luschen had an interception that put the Wildcats in position to ultimately give Cope a chance to hit the winning field goal.
“It was a 10-yard out and I saw it coming,” Luschen said. “We’d been practicing that all week and got it. From there it was just go.”
Luschen also added a 72-yard reception in the first half that led to Piedmont’s first touchdown.
Israel Robles added his second of two rushing touchdowns on the night to tie the game at 14 with 3:59 left in the third quarter.
Benford came up with his interception and after Mars’ touchdown, senior Dax Priddy recovered a fumble to put Piedmont in victory formation for the final two snaps.
“In the first half we were playing good defense, but we weren’t getting off the field. In the second half, we told them our emphasis was third down,” Hall said. “When we get there we have to make a play, and we did. Man, they played so well.”
