By Joe Medley, East Alabama Sports Today
PIEDMONT — Piedmont’s defense did something that hasn’t been done since Bill Clinton was president Friday.
Cole Austin showed he can get things done, no matter what opponents do to take away record-setting receiver Rollie Pinto.
The second-ranked Bulldogs dealt Fyffe its first shutout since 1999, beating the Red Devils 36-0 in a second-round playoff game on Piedmont’s Field of Champions.
Piedmont (12-0) will play host to Gordo in a Class 3A quarterfinal on Nov. 21. Fyffe finished 8-2.
Piedmont eliminated Fyffe in the quarterfinals last year and in the second round this year, but under third-year head coach Jonathan Miller. He also coached Saks to a 14-7 victory at Fyffe im the 2021 quarterfinals.
Fyffe has gone without a touchdown now three times since suffering a 21-0 loss to Plainview in 1999, including a 29-2 loss at Coosa Christian 2024 and a 23-3 loss to Clay County in the 2008 playoffs.
Piedmont became the first time since Plainview to hang a zero on Fyffe.
“Defensively, to come in and execute the way we did and play physical, because you know they’re going to bring it right at you,” Miller said. “Any time you’re able to keep them scoreless, it’s a big deal. Our defense played lights out.”
Piedmont held Fyffe to 65 total yards and three first downs.
“It was a group effort, everybody playing hard-nosed football,” Piedmont linebacker Bentley Chandler said. “We knew what we had to do coming into the game, and we did just that.”
While Piedmont’s defense made the headline Friday, Cole Austin made it known … have receivers other than Pinto, will find them and put the ball on them.
Austin completed 12 of 17 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns, including a 39-yard touchdown bomb to Mason Morrow, who caught three passes for 87 yards.
Austin also found tight end Ethan Turner for three completions for 37 yards, with two of those catches moving the chains for first downs.
“He’s done a good job all season of distributing the ball,” Miller said. “Obviously, we’re going to try to get it to Rollie whenever we can, but we do have some other guys who can make plays. The more guys who can make plays, the tougher it is to defend Rollie.”
Pinto caught four passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns, one of those on a tipped-ball catch in the back of the end zone. He also rushed for a 36-yard touchdown, but Austin showed he’ll find receivers left open when defenses focus on Pinto, the three-star prospect and Jacksonville State commit.
“That’s something that we’ve started to develop once we realized how they were going to guard us. The front tonight played amazing. The O-line played the game of their life.”
Piedmont’s Jaxon Howard rushed for 61 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run, and Nick Mixson rushed for a team-high 71 yards.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Coach (Paul) Benefield and the Fyffe program,” Miller said. “Historically, they’re a great football program here in northern Alabama, so any time you get a chance to compete against them, it’s a big deal. To get a win against them is a big deal.
“Thought our kids played great, all three phases, complementary football.”
