By Joe Medley, East Alabama Sports Today

PIEDMONT — Ohatchee turned to the so-called “Ugly Eagle” offense in 2015, and the Indians have unapologetically ground and pounded their way to contender status sense.

Eagles are meant to fly, however, and Ohatchee’s offense took wing in a big way at Piedmont on Friday.

Jake Roberson passed for 252 of the Indians’ 446 total yards and two touchdowns, and Ohatchee got over the top of Piedmont 38-21 in a key Class 3A, Region 6 game.

The Indians improved to 4-1 overall and 2-1 in region play, with Sylvania, Piedmont and Westbrook Christian in the rear-view mirror.

Ohatchee rebounded from a 64-34 loss to Sylvania last week. The Indians trailed 23-22 at halftime against the Rams.

“I feel like we answered the bell from last week,” Ohatchee coach Chris Findley said. “We really had to challenge them last week, especially after that second half.

“I thought we played well against Sylvania in spurts, but in the second half, they were pretty much gashing us over and over again. We had to get in the film room and get on the practice field and figure out what we’re doing and what we have to fix, and I think we answered the bell today.”

Ohatchee won for the third time in the past four games against Piedmont.

The Bulldogs fell to 1-3, 1-2 with losses to Sylvania and Ohatchee. More significant for the Bulldogs was the loss of wide receiver/running back/return man Rollie Pinto to a non-contact knee injury three plays into the third quarter.

“It’s a knee,” Piedmont coach Jonathan Miller said. “I don’t think it’s the ACL, but it’s still maybe the lateral collateral (ligament). He’s going to have to get an MRI, so we’ll see.”

Piedmont already lost junior wide receiver Jalon Helm and junior offensive lineman Chris Parris to ACL injuries. Safety Trevor Pike sustained an injury in the Sylvania game but is expected to return, Miller said.

Pinto was a big part of Piedmont’s offensive plan against Ohatchee. He rushed nine times for 66 yards, including a 12-yard touchdown run, and caught two passes for 39 yards.

Piedmont needed him to keep pace with Ohatchee. Roberson completed eight of 13 passes for 252 yards, including touchdown passes of 72 and 43 yards to Colby Hester, who caught six passes for 166 yards.

Roberson, Hester and Jesse Baswell have given Ohatchee more of a passing dimension this season. Baswell had two key receptions Friday, one to convert a fourth down on Ohatchee’s game-opening touchdown drive and another to convert third and long.

“Nobody thinks we can pass, and we just had to show everybody we could,” Hester said. “Just run the right routes, and the quarterback will give me a perfect ball, catch it every time.”

Findley said the Indians flexed their passing game more Friday in reaction to how Piedmont’s defense defended the run. It was more of an in-game adjustment than a pregame plan.

The point is, this Ohatchee team can do it.

“People talk about us throwing the ball a lot more, but it’s really just trying to balance what we love to do, physically, versus the guys we’ve got,” Findley said. “Colby is guy who can go get it, and Jake can throw it, so we want to use what we’ve got and make people cover the whole field. …

“We know we have it in the bag, if we need it.”

Ohatchee built a 14-0 lead on Baswell’s 2-yard touchdown run at 5:06 of the first quarter and Robertson’s 72-yard bomb to Hester at 11:26 of the second.

Piedmont answered to force a 14-14 tie at the half. Ish Bethel struggled for the final few yards and stretched the ball over the goal line to finish off Cole Wilson’s 17-yard touchdown pass at 9:56, and Pinto’s 12-yard touchdown run tied it at 4:38.

Both teams traded punts in the third quarter, but Baswell’s 1-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth put Ohatchee up 20-14.

Piedmont’s Demetrius Owen returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs their only lead, 21-20, but Roberson hit a drive-sustaining pass to Baswell to set up the 34-yard touchdown heave to Hester to give Ohatchee the lead for good, 26-21.

Baswell’s 2-yard touchdown run and Will Folsom’s 50-yard interception return provided the final margin.

“They did a good job tonight hitting some plays over the top, and that’s the thing about them,” Miller said. “Their skill group is really good. They’ve got … guys that can go get the ball.

“We had the lead and gave up a third-and-15-plus. We were all over him (Baswell), and the guy made a good play. It is what it is.”

Piedmont hosts Anniston on Thursday. Ohatchee is at home against Jacksonville on Friday.