Staff Reports

FLORENCE – Things got off to a good start for the Piedmont Bulldogs in their Class 3A state semifinal football game at Mars Hill Bible on Friday night.

Quarterback Cole Wilson connected with Rollie Pinto on a 9-yard touchdown pass to give the Bulldogs an early lead, but the Panthers pounced back, scoring 49 unanswered points and ultimately ended second-ranked Piedmont’s season at 13-1 with a 49-20 victory.

Caden Chandler led the No. 4 Panthers (13-1) with 217 yards on 22 carries with four touchdowns. Hudson Higgins added 105 yards on 23 totes with two scores.

Wilson completed 27 of 46 passes for 306 yards and two scores for Piedmont. Pinto posted 14 catches for 217 yards and a touchdown. Ishmael Bethel finished with eight receptions for 66 yards and a score.

Following Pinto’s opening score, Chandler accounted for the next four touchdowns on runs of 3, 2, 2 and 3 yards. Three of those scores came in the first half, in which Mars Hill built a 21-7 advantage.

Higgins scored the next three Panther touchdowns on runs of 5, 5 and 87 yards to extend Mars Hill’s advantage to 49-7 with 7:13 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Piedmont ended its scoring drought on Hayes Gunn’s 4-yard touchdown run with 4:27 to go in the game. Wilson connected with Bethel on a 12-yard scoring pass with 15 seconds remaining for the final.

With the win, Mars Hill improved to 17-0 in home playoff games and 4-1 in the state semifinals. The Panthers will battle Houston Academy (13-1) for the 3A title on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Birmingham’s Protective Stadium. Houston Academy defeated Southside of Selma 48-28 in the other 3A state semifinal on Friday.