In the closing seconds of Piedmont’s Class 3A state football championship victory over Montgomery Academy on Dec. 2 in Birmingham, head coach Steve Smith turned to the Bulldog fans at Protective Stadium. With fists raised skyward, he let out a loud ‘Woo!’

The epic 35-33 comeback win capped Smith’s 16th season with the Bulldogs. And what a career at Piedmont it has been.

Since his first season with the Bulldogs in 2006, Smith has compiled a 186-33 record, including a 48-11 mark in the playoffs in 17 seasons. In addition to his 11 years at Cedar Bluff, Smith has a 271-78 overall head coaching record. He’s tied for 13th with Nolan Atkins in the state’s career high school football wins. He’s five wins shy of overtaking 12th place from Dale Pruitt.

Piedmont went 13-2 in 2021 and won the program’s fifth state championship with the dramatic 23-point comeback win over Montgomery Academy. It was the Bulldogs’ fourth state title in seven years.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association recently rewarded Smith and the Bulldogs’ accomplishments for this past season. He was selected as Class 3A Coach of the Year, the second time he’s won the honor.

The Bulldogs also had six first-team selections in quarterback Jack Hayes, wide receiver Austin Estes, offensive lineman Steven Raney, defensive lineman Noah Reedy, and athlete Omarion Foster. Piedmont also had an honorable mention in kicker Sloan Smith.

In all, 23 area athletes received all-state recognition. The teams were released by the ASWA on Sunday.

Hayes completed 160-of-258 pass attempts for 2,673 yards and 38 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,027 yards and 21 touchdowns on 210 carries.

Estes was Hayes’ top receiver. He had 59 catches for 1,148 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Raney was the Bulldogs’ best lineman. He graded out at 88 percent with 30 pancake blocks.

On defense, Reedy led the team in tackles for loss (12) and sacks (9). Smart led the Bulldogs in tackles (152) and was second behind Reedy in tackles for loss (9). He also finished the season with five sacks.

Foster, primarily a defensive back but also made big plays for the Bulldogs at wide receiver, led the team in interceptions (8) and pass breakups (11). He was also fourth on the team in tackles (94) and caught 12 passes for 193 yards and six touchdowns.

Sloan Smith made 65-of-77 point after touchdown attempts. He also connected on 5-of-9 field goals with a long distance of 34 yards.

Class 2A Spring Garden (12-1) earned a first-team selection in wide receiver Cooper Austin, a second-team selection in defensive lineman Landon Gowens, and an honorable mention at running back in Andrew Floyd.

Austin caught 67 passes for 1,389 yards and 21 touchdowns. Gowens posted 71 total tackles, including nine for loss, with eight sacks and an interception. Floyd ran for 1,142 yards and 13 touchdowns on 164 carries.

Staying in Class 2A, Sand Rock (7-4) had a first-team defensive back selection in Olin Pruitt and a second-team athlete in Jacob Cornejo.

Pruitt posted seven interceptions and 25 solo tackles, including a tackle for a loss. Cornejo, a running back and linebacker, ran for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns on 141 carries. He also caught 19 passes for 254 yards and had 54 solo tackles (3 ½ for loss) with 18 assists, two interceptions and a sack.

In Class 4A, the Cherokee County Warriors (7-4) had a first-team selection defensive back in CJ Gresham. The Warriors also had three second-teamers in Damien Ramsey (athlete), Jay Watts (offensive line) and Tae Diamond (defensive line), and an honorable mention in kicker Daniel Mejia.

Gresham posted 27 tackles (1 for loss) with eight interceptions. Ramsey ran for 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also posted 56 tackles with three interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack on defense. Watts graded out at 91 percent for the season with 26 knockdowns and allowed just three sacks all season. Diamond delivered 53 tackles (19 for loss) with 8 ½ sacks, three fumble recoveries (one for a touchdowns) and a safety. Mejia made 94 percent of his extra points and was 2-of-4 on field goals for the season.

Class 1A Cedar Bluff (6-5) and Gaylesville (6-5) both had three players earn all-state recognition.

The Tigers’ Jacob Burleson claimed one of the first-team defensive back spots while Preston Burt was a first-team selection on the defensive line. Dylan Kinard claimed a second-team spot on the offensive line.

Burleson posted 42 tackles with nine interceptions. Burt had 100 total tackles, including 14 for loss, with seven sacks. Kinard collected 54 kills (blocks from beginning to end of play) and 33 pancakes.

The Trojans had a first-team athlete in Keylon Higgins, a first-team offensive lineman in Briley Mitchell, and a second-team defensive lineman in Michael Reynolds.

Higgins, a running back and defensive lineman, accounted for 1,578 yards all-purpose yards with 15 touchdowns. He also had 71 tackles and four sacks on defense. Mitchell managed an 86 percent or above grade with 52 pancake blocks on a team that featured two 1,000-yard rushers. Reynolds registered 81 tackles and three sacks on defense.

The complete ASWA All-State Teams list can be found on the WEIS Radio website, weisradio.com.