Piedmont News

• NOV

  2

  Panthers end 2018 season with 45-25 loss

  Piedmont gave Sun Valley all they could handle with their rushing attack only to fall to Sun Valley 45-25. However, the Panthers couldn’t stop Sun Valley’s offense. The Spartans’ first play of the game — a smoke screen to Blackwell — went 91 yards for a touchdown. The Panthers (2-9, 0-7 SCC) close out the year having lost their final seven games. Piedmont, which hasn’t beaten Sun Valley since 2004, was able to move the ball at will for most of the night. The Spartans had no answer for junior running back Connor Purser, who carried the ball 34 times for 187 yards and all three Panther touchdowns. Purser finishes the year as Piedmont’s lead back, carrying the ball 214 times for 1,213 yards (5.7 average) and 13 touchdowns.

  • OCT

    26

    Panthers fall again 21-11

    After a hail mary loss to Monroe last week, the Panthers would not be able to continue a 12 game losing streak for Parkwood, falling to the Rebels 21-11. The Rebels struggled to get their offense going early until Cain got his team on the board with a 8-yard TD run with 3:19 left until halftime. Parkwood then got a spark from its defense when senior Kyle Hearn intercepted a pass and raced 35 yards for a TD on the final play of the half for a 14-3 advantage. The turnover was one of three the Rebels forced on the night. They also blocked a field goal in the first half. Piedmont scored its lone touchdown late in the third on a 3-yard run by junior Connor Purser, who also converted the two-point conversion to trim the lead to three. But the Panthers never threatened the end zone again and a missed field goal with 9:35 left that would have tied the game. Purser finished with 29 carries for 150 yards to lead the Panthers. Piedmont will host Sun Valley Friday Nov. 2nd

    • OCT

      19

      Hail Mary sinks Panthers

      A last-second 45-yard touchdown pass from Monroe's Trey Shepherd to Max Helms snatched the win from Piedmont 40-35 in one of the greatest finishes in the history of Union County football. The Panhters were trailing by as many as 12 points in the fourth quarter but would not go down without a fight. As the clock ticked down toward the final buzzer, senior running back Conner Perkins drove his way into the end zone with a two-yard touchdown run, capping off a drive that started after Monroe’s fi rst fumble of the night. On the Redhawks next possession, Stafford fumbled the ball and Piedmont’s Brooks Gsell recovered, taking the ball inside the 35-yard line. The Panthers offense finally regained the lead with 12 seconds left, as sophomore quarterback Henry Saunders found Perkins on an eight-yard strike. Saunders finished 7-of-9 with 78 yards passing and one interception. The miracle play came with 2.8 seconds left on the clock. Standing near the 50-yard line, Shepherd threw a Hail Mary pass, which was tipped by a Piedmont defender before being caught by Helms in the end zone. Piedmont's Connor Puser rushed for 254 yards and 2 TDs in the game. The Panthers fall to 2-7 and 0-5 in the SCC. The Panthers will be at Parkwood Friday Oct. 26th.

      • OCT

        12

        Panthers shutout again

        The Panthers were shut out 41-0 in a SCC loss to Charlotte Catholic. Junior RB Troy Hagin led the Panther with 44 yards rushing on 16 carries. teh Panthers threw the ball just seven times, completing one to Nic Fincher for 13 yards. The Panthers fall to 2-6 and 0-4 in the SCC. The Panthers will be at Monroe Friday Oct. 19th.

        • OCT

          5

          Panthers fall 35-7

          After the 1st quarter of the game Piedmont found themselves down 28-0 and then down 35-7 after Piedmont scored on a 70-yard fumble return by senior linebacker Palmer Turner. Runningback Troy Hagin scored the lone offense TD on a 4-yard TD in the 3rd quarter. Connor Purser lead the Panthers with 78 yards rushing. The Panthers will host Charlotte Catholic Friday Oct. 12th.

          • SEP

            29

            Panthers can hold on to lead, lose 38-12

            Trailing by six points late in the first half, Cuthbertson rallied to score 32 unanswered points to defeat Piedmont 38-12 The Cavaliers were able to adjust to Piedmont’s option attack in the first quar ter, Cuthbertson really had no trouble slowing down the Panther attack. Piedmont ran for 174 yards on 39 carries (4.5 average) and completed just 5-of-11 passes for 60 yards and an interception. The Panthers will play at Weddington Friday Oct. 5th.

            • SEP

              12

              Mavs shut out Panthers in 42-0 loss

              The Panthers were shut out 42-0 by Marvin Ridge to open the SCC play. Connor Purser rushed for 103 yards on 20 carries for Piedmont. The Panthers were held to 0 passing yards on just 4 attempts. Piedmont shuts out Forest Hills 34-0Piedmont is now 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the Southern Carolina Conference. The Panthers play at Cuthbertson Friday Sept. 28th.

              • SEP

                7

                Panthers make it 2-in a row

                Piedmont stood out in all three phases of a dominating 34-0 road win over Forest Hills on Friday. The Panthers scored four rushing touchdowns and returned a kickoff for a score. It was the program’s third shutout under head coach Luke Hyatt, who is in his fourth season. Piedmont has won two straight and is now 2-2 on the year after starting the season with lopsided losses to Central Cabarrus and Porter Ridge. Purser and fellow junior Troy Hagin both eclipsed 100 yards rushing for the second straight week. Purser finished with 20 carries for 151 yards and three scores, while Hagin ran for 102 yards and a TD on 18 carries. Purser and Hagin added TD runs later in the third to putt he game out of reach. Piedmont finished with 284 yards on the ground and attempted just one pass all night. The Panthers are off this week and will host Marvin Ridge Friday Sept 21st

                • AUG

                  25

                  Panthers get 1st win of 2018

                  Piedmont finally got its ground game going in a 47-9 road win over Union Academy on Friday. After combining for just 167 rushing yards in their run first offense over the first two games, the Panthers exploded for 520 yards on 48 carries. Piedmont (1-2) had several big runs on the night, including four that went for 47 yards or more. Three Panthers went over the 100-yard rushing mark, including junior Troy Hagin, who carried 15 times for a team-high 169 yards and three touchdowns. Hagin’s last TD run in the fourth covered 51 yards to give Piedmont a 33-3 advantage. Junior Connor Purser added 125 yards and two TDs for the Panthers, who also got 108 yards on just three carries from senior Branson Shillingburg. Union Academy’s lone TD came midway through the four th on a 88-yard run by sophomore Isaac King, who finished with 149 yards on 13 carries. Cards senior QB Hayden Gosnell threw for 146 yards in the loss, while junior receiver Derek Young hauled in a gamehigh seven catches for 82 yards. The Panthers travel to Forest hills Friday Sept 7th.

                  • AUG

                    26

                    Panthers drop 2 in a row

                    The Panthers scored 1st but could not keep pace with Porter Ridge falling to the Pirates 48-6. Piedmont averaged 3.45 yards per carry, completed 2-of-12 passes and didn’t pick up a first down in the second half. Piedmont falls to 0-2 and will travel to Union Academy Friday Aug. 31st

                    • AUG

                      18

                      Panthers fall in season opener

                      The Panthers opend the 2018 with a 42-9 loss to Central Cabarrus. Piedmont tied the game at 7 when sophomore quarterback Henry Saunders rushed it in from one yard out, but Central Cabarrus built a 21-7 lead by the half and cruised their way to the victory. Piedmont added a safety in the third quarter to cut the lead to 21-9 but never could find an offensive rhythm. The Panthers travel to Porter Ridge next Friday and that game is the UCHSF Game of the Week.