By Blake Colston
Sports Editor
Piedmont is taking it one step at a time as it battles for a district title. The Wildcats on Friday night built more momentum toward that lofty goal.
PHS rolled past Shawnee 44-7 behind 152 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Israel Robles as Piedmont clinched its fifth straight postseason appearance, setting a new program record for consecutive trips to the playoffs.
The victory also puts 12th-ranked Piedmont in position to vie for a district title in the final two weeks of the regular season. The Wildcats will travel to No. 5 Bishop McGuinness next Friday in what promises to be one of the top games in the metro area. Then fourth-ranked Carl Albert visits Piedmont to close out district play Nov. 4.
“We need to improve our position and that’s what we’re playing for the next two weeks,” head coach Jeff Hall said. “We want to host a home playoff game. These (two) are the games you coach and work for all year.”
After tonight’s results, Piedmont (6-2, 3-1) and McGuinness (7-1, 4-1) trail first-place Carl Albert (7-2, 5-0) by one game. No. 6 Guthrie (6-2, 2-2) holds the final playoff spot in 5A-2 and is two games back. The Blue Jays lost at Carl Albert 41-7 tonight.
The Wildcats weren’t likely to be tested by the winless Wolves Friday night – and they weren’t – but, at times, Piedmont looked like it had one eye toward next week’s game with McGuinness while doing what it had to do to get past Shawnee.
“We came out a little bit lethargic,” Hall said. “We could’ve put them away a little quicker, but anytime you put up 44 points you can’t be too disappointed.”
Piedmont led 7-0 after a 12-yard touchdown run from junior Cannon Wood at the 7:45 mark of the first quarter, but after the ‘Cats defense got a stop, a muffed punt gave Shawnee the ball inside the PHS 10-yard line. The Wolves cashed in on the miscue with a one-yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7 late in the first quarter.
Piedmont’s passing game sparked the ‘Cats sideline and revved up a sleepy home crowd late in the first half as quarterback Josh Mars hit Lane Whitworth for a 37-yard touchdown that extended Piedmont’s lead to 27-7.
“He threw a great pass and it was on me to finish it out,” Whitworth said.
Who says flexbone teams don’t pass? Josh Mars hits Lane Whitworth for a 37-yard touchdown pass on 3rd-&-20. @Piedmont_FB leads Shawnee 27-7 w/ to go until halftime. #okpreps pic.twitter.com/CIWpJv60ks
— Blake Colston (@CBlakeColston) October 22, 2022
Piedmont ran a well-executed two-minute drill on its final possession of the first half to set up freshman Chase Duke’s 29-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.
“Those are scenarios that we work on and we were able to execute it,” Hall said. “Our freshman kicker is doing an outstanding job.”
Whitworth, who is a defensive back and wide receiver, said afterward that facing an 0-7 opponent might have had some effect on the Wildcats’ level of play.
“We looked slow on defense tonight. We need to play fast and physical,” Whitworth said. “But, overall, this was a good team win.”
Wood rushed for two touchdowns and 78 yards on 11 carries. Senior Kolten Luschen added 56 yards rushing on eight carries and made a juggling, diving 39-yard catch as Piedmont’s flexbone offense displayed some versatility.
“People don’t believe us, but we work on it a lot because we know it’s a part of our offense that can really help us if we can get it fine-tuned,” Hall said.
Piedmont finished with 358 yards on the ground. The Wolves were held to just 38 total yards in the first half and never came close to scoring again after its gift-wrapped first-quarter touchdown.
Struggling Shawnee (0-8, 0-4) will try to earn its first win of the season next week against Southeast.
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