Staff Reports
PIEDMONT – The Piedmont Bulldogs opened the Class 3A state football playoffs with a bang and captured the program’s 600th career win with a 59-19 blowout of visiting Phil Campbell on Thursday.
The second-ranked Bulldogs (11-0) scored all 59 of their points in the first half. They led 32-6 at the end of the first quarter and 59-6 at halftime.
Cole Austin completed 8-of-11 pass attempts for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Rollie Pinto caught five passes for 64 yards and two scores. Ethan Tidwell tallied two catches for 37 yards and a touchdown.
Nick Mixson led Piedmont’s ground game with 79 yards on seven carries with three touchdowns. Jaxson Howard added 33 yards on seven totes with a pair of scores.
Hayston Scott connected with Austin Elliott on a pair of touchdown passes (2 and 8 yards) for the Bobcats (6-5). Scott also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Braxton Downey late in the game for the final.
Piedmont advances to the second round where it will host Fyffe (9-2), a 34-7 winner over Lauderdale County in other first round action on Thursday. The Bulldogs defeated Fyffe 30-28 in last year’s quarterfinal round.
