Staff Reports

WEAVER – The Weaver Bearcats gave third-ranked Piedmont a scare, but Rollie Pinto’s 73-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter helped provide the Bulldogs with a 26-21 victory in Class 3A Region 6 football action on Friday night.

Pinto had three carries for 98 yards and the score. He also caught eight passes for 124 yards and a touchdown for the Bulldogs, who improved to 8-0 overall and 6-0 in region play.

Hayes Gunn added 84 yards on nine carries with a touchdown. Brodie Homesley had 56 yards on 10 totes for the Bulldogs.

Cole Wilson got Piedmont on the scoreboard first on his 1-yard touchdown run with 5:19 remaining in the first quarter. The extra point was no good, keeping the score at 6-0.

Weaver (2-6, 2-4) battled back to take the lead on the ensuing kickoff. Kaden Gooden dashed 75 yards for the score, and with the extra point, the Bearcats held a 7-6 advantage.

Gunn put Piedmont back in front with a 1-yard scoring run. Wilson connected with Pinto on the 2-point conversion, giving Piedmont a 14-7 lead at the 4-minute mark of the first quarter.

Wilson connected with Pinto again on an 18-yard touchdown pass a minute into the second quarter to put the Bulldogs up 20-7, but Gooden pulled the Bearcats back within a score on a 42-yard touchdown run to make it a 20-14 game.

Weaver took a 21-20 lead at halftime on Damerion Welch’s 26-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds left in the half. The two teams went scoreless in the third, setting up Pinto’s 73-yard touchdown run with 11:26 remaining in the game for the final.

Piedmont hosts Wellborn this Friday, while Weaver is at Westbrook Christian.