Staff Reports

PIEDMONT – In a battle of two top five ranked high school football teams, Class 4A, No. 2 Alexandria downed Class 2A, No. 4 Piedmont 35-12 Friday night at the Field of Champions.

Cole Wheeler connected on 11-of-18 pass attempts for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while JJ Beason ran for 140 yards on 24 carries with a 1-yard touchdown for the Valley Cubs (5-0).

Cole Austin led the Bulldogs (5-1) by completing 9-of-16 pass attempts for 136 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 23 yards on 11 carries with a 3-yard score.

Alexandria built a 21-12 halftime advantage. The Valley Cubs opened the scoring on Wheeler’s 45-yard touchdown pass to M.J. Morris. Wheeler’s extra point provided Alexandria a 7-0 lead with 8:54 to go in the first quarter.

Morris led the Valley Cub receivers with six catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

Austin countered for Piedmont with just over two minutes remaining in the quarter on a 3-yard quarterback keeper. The 2-point conversion failed, keeping the score at 7-6.

Wheeler extended Alexandria’s advantage on 1-yard run just four seconds into the second quarter. Piedmont blocked the extra point to keep the Valley Cub lead to 13-6.

Wheeler tossed his second touchdown pass to Morris – this one from 38 yards. Following a 2-point conversion, Alexandria extended its lead to 21-6 with 2:21 remaining in the first half.

Just 20 seconds later, Piedmont pulled closer on an Austin-to-Carson Sanders 82-yard touchdown connection. The 2-point try failed, and Alexandria led 21-12 at halftime.

Beason scored on a 1-yard run early in the third quarter, and Morris finished the game off with a 3-yard run with 2:13 to go in the fourth for the final.

Piedmont travels to Pleasant Valley on Friday.