Staff Reports
PIEDMONT – For the second straight year, the Piedmont Bulldogs have reached the Class 3A football state semifinals. And, for the second straight year, second-ranked Piedmont will travel to top-ranked Mars Hill Bible with a berth to the state championship game in Birmingham on the line.
Quarterback Cole Austin ran for three touchdowns, and Rollie Pinto added another in the Bulldogs’ 28-20 victory over Gordo at the Field of Champions on Friday night.
Austin finished with 90 yards on 14 carries for the Bulldogs (13-0), including a 33-yard score with 3:25 remaining in the fourth quarter after eighth-ranked Gordo (10-3) had cut the Bulldog lead to just two points. Austin also completed 6-of-9 pass attempts for 48 yards.
After a scoreless first quarter, Gordo took the lead on Ryder Robertson’s 4-yard TD run at the 6-minute mark of the second. Following a successful extra point, the Green Wave led 7-0.
Austin gave the Bulldogs an 8-7 advantage with a 1-yard touchdown run and ensuing 2-point conversion with 2:59 remaining before halftime.
Piedmont extended its lead just before the first half ended. Following a Carson Sanders blocked punt, Pinto scored on 9-yard run. The try for two was unsuccessful, keeping the score at 14-7.
Pinto gained 36 yards on six carries with a touchdown.
Gordo knotted the game with 7:25 left in the third quarter on Robertson’s 40-yard touchdown run on a fourth-down play. The extra point was good to tie the game at 14.
Robertson led the Green Wave with 42 carries for 197 yards and two touchdowns.
Austin later scored on another 1-yard run on fourth down with 3:08 remaining in the third. Austin then hit Chase Kirkpatrick on the 2-point try to give the Bulldogs a 22-14 edge.
But Gordo battled back again.
Makain Robertson connected with Ford Hewitt on a 7-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 left in the game. The Green Wave failed to tie the game on the ensuing 2-point try, keeping Piedmont in front 22-20.
Austin scored his third touchdown of the game on a 33-yard run with 3:25 remaining for the final to set the stage for another semifinal clash with Mars Hill (13-0).
The top-ranked Panthers dominated Geraldine 42-0 in other 3A quarterfinal action on Friday. They ended Piedmont’s season last year with a 49-20 decision in the state semifinals.
