Saturday, November 03, 2007

GAME 9 v. JOHN SWETT

PIEDMONT RUNS OUT CLOCK
Highlanders hang on to top John Swett despite five turnovers
By Roger Lett, STAFF WRITER
Article Launched: 11/03/2007 02:33:50 AM PDT

CROCKETT — Chris McHenry scored on a 1-yard plunge with 1:57 left in the third quarter, and the Piedmont High football team's staunch defense limited host John Swett to 45 second-half yards to preserve a hard-fought 21-14 Bay Shore Athletic League win.

Piedmont's Rory Bonnin carried tacklers for a first down with 45 seconds remaining to end the Indians' hope, as the Highlanders (7-2, 5-0 BSAL) overcame three lost fumbles, two interceptions and a late failed fake punt to win their seventh straight.

Mark Anderson-Williams' 95-yard kickoff return provided John Swett's only second-half score. The return followed a 25-yard touchdown pass from Piedmont's Ryan Lipkin to Alexander Menke. Lipkin completed 15 of 26 passes for 231 yards. For the Highlanders, the game was their last obstacle before meeting St. Patrick-St. Vincent (9-0, 5-0) next week in a battle of unbeaten league teams for the BSAL championship.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Indians (3-5, 2-3) drove 82 yards in eight plays to forge a 7-0 lead. Jordan Porter ran untouched 5 yards over left guard for the score. The key plays on the drive were a 30-yard sweep of right end by Mark Anderson-Williams and a third-down pass interference call.

Taking over with just 1:09 left in the half, Piedmont immediately scored on a 79-yard pass from Lipkin to Andrada. Andrada broke one tackle before racing down the right sideline. The Highlanders opened the game aggressively with an attempted hook-and-lateral play that went for only a 3-yard gain. Lipkin's initial pass to Bonacum was low, forcing Bonacum to a knee to make the catch.

Piedmont attempted to assert its strong line play on the ground before returning to the pass in the second quarter. Piedmont was limited to 11 rushing yards in the half.

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