Piedmont Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Get 25% off your subscription by entering Knight25 in the coupon code area. Enjoy!</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the month of July and that means it's preview time! Throughout the month of July, we are publishing 100 team previews to get you ready for the 2022 season. This is something that began last year and has become even bigger and better this year. We're looking forward to diving deep into the top teams across the state. From defending champs, to top contenders and dark horses, we'll have complete coverage every single day with new teams from Class 6A down to A. In this post, we take a look at the Piedmont Wildcats. Although they're in a tough district, Piedmont expects to contend for a playoff spot this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong>Piedmont Wildcats</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Piedmont's flexbone option attack returns this season and they're looking to turn things around after a 5-6 season in 2021 and a first round exit in the Class 5A playoffs. Although they made it to the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, the Wildcats finished with a 5-6 record and the record struggled after a slow start last season. Piedmont began the year 0-3 on the field but 1-3 technically with a forfeited win over El Reno. They would also lose in back to back weeks to perennial powers Bishop McGuinness and Carl Albert. However, the Wildcats would finish fourth in the district and they nearly upset district champion Lawton MacArthur in the first round. They fell 14-10 and their 2021 campaign came to a close. But the Wildcats bring back 16 starters from last year's team and they have some serious talent in some of the younger classes. Not only should Piedmont be in the mix this year, but they should stay in the mix for the next few seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eight starters come back on the offensive side of the ball and bringing back that kind of experience for their option offense will definitely provide a boost as they have a tough schedule once again this season. The experience on the offensive side of the ball will be a big positive. The Wildcats also bring back eight starters on the defensive side of the ball. And as we mentioned before, the Wildcats have some serious talent on both sides of the ball that is not only experienced, but it's young talent as well. This is a Piedmont squad that should be considered a playoff contender for the next few years. The biggest hurdle that Piedmont faces this year is their district. It's the toughest district in the state in our opinion as three of the top four teams in the 5A preseason rankings are all in Piedmont's district. The Wildcats will certainly be challenged. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2021 Results (5-6 Record - Lost In Class 5A 1st Round)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sept. 3 - Beat El Reno (Forfeit)<br>Sept. 10 - Lost To Putnam City North 26-10<br>Sept. 17 - Lost To Noble 49-35<br>Sept. 24 - Lost To Guthrie 35-14<br>Oct. 1 - Beat Guymon 70-6<br>Oct. 7 - Beat Western Heights 65-0<br>Oct. 14 - Lost To Carl Albert 28-10<br>Oct. 22 - Lost To Bishop McGuinness 18-0<br>Oct. 29 - Beat Lawton Eisenhower 21-12<br>Nov. 5 - Beat Woodward 24-16<br>1st Round - Lost To Lawton MacArthur 14-10</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Key Losses To Graduation</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camdyn Cardwell - Offensive Lineman<br>Cole Riggs - Defensive Back<br>Glendon Barnes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players To Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='215197' first='Cannon' last='Wood'] - 2024 Running Back/Linebacker<br></strong>Piedmont has a few 2024 prospects that are on the radar already and one of the biggest prospects on this year's team is running back and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='215197' first='Cannon' last='Wood']. We really like Wood to be one of those two-way players that is just as valuable on offense as he is on defense. Wood is a very physical runner on offense but he has plenty of playmaking ability as well. Then you turn around and look at what he does on defense and he leads a very experienced defense into the 2022 season. Piedmont will expect Wood to produce in a big way this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='396890' first='Josh' last='Mars'] - 2024 Quarterback<br></strong>The other Piedmont player to watch is going to be critical to the success of the Piedmont offense. 2024 quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='396890' first='Josh' last='Mars'] returns at the quarterback position and anytime you're talking about a team that runs the flexbone option offense, the quarterback is so important to their success. The quarterback has to be in lockstep with the rest of his offense. Mars coming back with a year of experience will certainly help that. He's also helped by having plenty of talent around him at the running back positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>More Names To Know</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brogan Hardy - 2024 Linebacker<br>Cale Coffman - 2023 Tight End/Defensive Lineman<br>[player_tooltip player_id='51863' first='Jacob' last='Anglin'] - 2023 Running Back/Defensive Back<br>John Whetter - 2023 Offensive/Defensive Lineman<br>Lane Whitworth - 2025 Wide Receiver/Defensive Back<br>[player_tooltip player_id='969924' first='Tyson' last='Benford'] - 2024 Running Back/Linebacker</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2022 Schedule/Games To Circle</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aug. 26 - AT Noble<br></strong>- The season gets kicked off in week zero and right away, Piedmont will be tested by one of 5A's best offenses. They'll travel to Noble in week zero and this will definitely be a clash of styles as Piedmont's flexbone option attack faces off with Noble and their high-powered passing offense. It goes without saying but the Wildcats will definitely want to keep Noble's offense on the sideline and they'll look to control time of possession. A win here in the season opener can give the Wildcats a ton of momentum throughout the rest of a tough non-district schedule. <br>Sept. 2 - El Reno<br>Sept. 9 - AT Blanchard<br>Sept. 16 - AT Duncan<br>Sept. 23 - Southeast<br><strong>Sept. 29 - Guthrie<br></strong>- Piedmont will wrap up a very busy September at home against Guthrie in week five. The Wildcats open the district slate in week four against Southeast but this Thursday night clash with Guthrie will be incredibly important. We've written quite a bit about the toughest districts in the state this fall and 5A-2 is arguably the toughest. A loss here will put Piedmont in a position where they're scratching and clawing for playoff positioning, and the chances of having a home playoff game is going to be less if they can't get a win here.<br>Oct. 7 - AT Lawton Eisenhower<br>Oct. 21 - Shawnee<br><strong>Oct. 28 - AT Bishop McGuinness<br></strong>- In week nine, the Wildcats go on the road to face Bishop McGuinness. Right now, Bishop McGuinness and Carl Albert are not only the top two teams in this district but they're the top two teams in the 5A rankings. Piedmont will attempt to steal at least one of these games as they wrap up the regular season against both the Irish and then the Titans in week ten. A win here will help them within the district standings. Piedmont will have a good idea of what they need to do in order to make the playoffs. <br>Nov. 4 - Carl Albert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Notable</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Because Guymon is playing an independent schedule, that means that Piedmont's district only has seven teams this fall. Because of that, Piedmont has a unique schedule where more than half of their games are going to be in the books by the end of September. Piedmont will play every week from week zero to week five and by the time October rolls around, the Wildcats will have just four games left on their schedule. They'll have a much needed bye week in week seven, before the home stretch of the regular season. Piedmont's two toughest games come in the final two weeks so that bye week will certainly help them get ready for the playoff push. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Championship History</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>0 State Championships</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->