By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
An offensive shootout broke out at F&M Bank Stadium Friday night, Sept. 27 as the Piedmont Wildcats and the Choctaw Yellowjackets went to the locker rooms at halftime knotted at 28-28.
The game would end however, in the favor of Choctaw, 56-40.
Choctaw took a 35-28 lead in the third quarter on Military Appreciation Night at F&M Stadium.
The Yellowjackets scored first with a 2-yard plunge from runningback Mayor Morgan.
A freshman for Piedmont answered on the kickoff. Knoxtyn Rallo had an 85-yard kickoff return to tie the score at 7-7.
Choctaw’s offense answered on the very next play. It was Mayor Morgan on a 68-yard run.
Penalties hurt Choctaw’s defense, and Piedmont was able to tie it up with a touchdown from Grayson May on a 1-yard quarterback sneak.
Mayor Morgan had a long touchdown run called back on a holding call.
A pitch sweep to Carter Hainrihar worked in the red zone, and Hainrihar went 14 yards for the lead.
In the second quarter, the Yellowjackets put a drive together that was capped off by a 4-yard touchdown run. The extra point tied it at 21.
With 8:41 remaining on a third down and eight yards to go the Wildcats went to a trick play. A double reverse pitchback to May resulted in a downfield completion to Jonte Holt as May was hit as he released the ball.
Hainrihar took another pitch to pick up a first down and kept the Wildcats drive going. Grayson May scored on a keeper. Then Choctaw went to the air to tie the game before the half, and scored on a fourth down play The Choctaw quarterback tossed a TD pass with just seconds to go in the half.
On a fourth down and two yards to go play with a minute to go in the third quarter, Piedmont quarterback Grayson May threw an 8-yard TD to Jonte Holt. But the extra point was wide left and no good.
In the third quarter Choctaw scored on a 37-yard pass to Choctaw’s tight end Titus Hawk and it was 42-34.
Piedmont didn’t give up. Lane Whitworth scored on a 7-yard reverse and Piedmont pulled within two points.
Choctaw had control of the game with about three minutes to go, 56-40.
Read The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette for full coverage of the game.
