The Piedmont Bulldogs didn’t just win their quarterfinal game—they announced themselves as a force. On Friday, November 21, 2025, at 7:00 PM Central Time, the undefeated Piedmont Bulldogs held off a gritty Gordo Green Wave team 28-13 in the AHSAA Class 3A State Football Championship quarterfinalsPiedmont High School stadium in Piedmont, Alabama. The win wasn’t pretty early on, but it was decisive. And now, with a perfect 13-0 record, Piedmont is one win away from the state title.
A Slow Start, Then a Spike
The first quarter was a defensive battle—zero points, zero momentum. Gordo had the ball deep in Piedmont territory, driving to the 32-yard line before the clock ran out. Fans held their breath. Was this going to be the Green Wave’s night?
Then came the second quarter—and everything changed.
At the 6:00 mark, Ryder Robertson of Gordo punched in a 4-yard touchdown run. The extra point was good. Gordo led 7-0. The Green Wave bench erupted. For a moment, it felt like the underdog might pull off the upset.
But Piedmont had answers.
Bentley Chandler, the Bulldogs’ linebacker, stripped the ball on the ensuing onside kick attempt. Recovered. Suddenly, Piedmont had life. Quarterback Cole Austin led a 49-yard drive, capped by his own 1-yard plunge into the end zone. Then, instead of kicking the extra point, Piedmont went for two—and Austin kept it himself, diving across the goal line. The scoreboard flipped: 14-7, Piedmont.
The Turning Point: A Blocked Punt and a Flash
Just when Gordo thought they could regroup, the defense struck again. On the next possession, a Gordo punt was blocked clean by Piedmont’s special teams unit. The ball rolled into the end zone, but was recovered at Gordo’s 27-yard line—with 49.7 seconds left in the half.
That’s when Rollie Pinto did what stars do.
One play. A sweep left. A cutback. A burst through the line. Ten yards. Touchdown. The crowd roared. The conversion run failed, but the damage was done: 14-7 at halftime, and Gordo was reeling.
Second Half: Control, Not Chaos
The third quarter was all Piedmont. The Bulldogs’ offensive line dominated. Their defense tightened like a vice. Gordo’s offense, which had moved the ball well early, went silent. Three-and-outs. Penalties. A fumble recovered by Piedmont’s safety at midfield.
Early in the fourth, with the score still 14-7, Piedmont finally broke the game open. A 12-play, 68-yard drive chewed up 5:12 of clock. Austin found tight end Marcus Bell for a 14-yard gain on 3rd-and-9. Then, on 4th-and-goal from the 2, fullback Jalen McCall powered through two defenders for the score. The extra point made it 21-7.
Gordo answered with a 52-yard drive of their own, capped by a 1-yard TD run from quarterback Brayden Hill. But the two-point attempt failed. Still, 21-13. The Green Wave still had hope.
Then came the dagger.
On the next drive, Piedmont’s sophomore running back, Jaxon Moore, broke free on a sweep right. 47 yards. No one touched him. Touchdown. The final score: 28-13. The stadium shook. The Gordo players stood motionless on the sideline.
What This Means
Piedmont didn’t just win a game—they silenced doubters. After a 46-0 demolition of Glencoe in the previous round, some questioned whether the Bulldogs had faced real competition. Gordo, 11-2 and coming off a 61-25 win over Carbon Hill, was supposed to be the test. And for three quarters, they were.
But Piedmont’s depth, discipline, and clutch execution proved too much. Their offense averaged 6.8 yards per play. Their defense held Gordo to just 288 total yards. And they forced three turnovers.
Meanwhile, Gordo’s season—built on a high-powered offense and a resilient defense—ended in heartbreak. Their star, Robertson, finished with 89 rushing yards and a touchdown. But it wasn’t enough.
What’s Next: The Real Test
Piedmont now advances to face the undefeated Mars Hill Bible (14-0) in the semifinals. That’s not just a game—it’s a collision of titans. Mars Hill Bible has outscored its playoff opponents 112-10. They’ve got a 5-star quarterback, a 6’4” receiver, and a defense that hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown in five games.
Piedmont? They’ve got heart. And a quarterback in Austin who’s now 13-0 as a starter. They’ve got a defense that rises when it matters. And they’ve got something else: belief.
For a small town like Piedmont—population 3,200—this run isn’t just about football. It’s about pride. It’s about kids who grew up playing on dirt fields now standing on a state semifinal stage.
Behind the Numbers
- Piedmont’s record: 13-0 (0 losses this season)
- Gordo’s final record: 11-2
- Piedmont’s average margin of victory in playoffs: 38.7 points
- Time of possession in the second half: Piedmont 19:17, Gordo 10:43
- Total yards: Piedmont 391, Gordo 288
There’s no sugarcoating it: Gordo fought. They had chances. But Piedmont made the plays when it counted. And that’s what separates champions from contenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Piedmont’s defense shut down Gordo’s offense in the second half?
Piedmont switched to a 3-4 defensive alignment in the second half, bringing extra linebackers into the box to clog running lanes. They also blitzed on 3rd-and-long, forcing Gordo into predictable passing situations. The key was their safety, who read the quarterback’s eyes on two critical third downs, resulting in a forced fumble and an interception.
Who are the key players to watch in the semifinal against Mars Hill Bible?
Piedmont’s quarterback Cole Austin, who’s thrown for 1,420 yards and rushed for 890 this season, will need to manage the game against Mars Hill Bible’s aggressive front seven. On defense, linebacker Bentley Chandler—who had two sacks and the game-changing onside kick recovery—will be critical in containing Mars Hill Bible’s star running back, Jalen Carter, who averages 8.1 yards per carry.
Why was the location listed as Piedmont High School if some sources called it a neutral site?
While some outlets incorrectly labeled it a neutral site, the AHSAA awarded home-field advantage to the higher-seeded team—Piedmont—based on their regular-season record and strength of schedule. The "Field of Champions" nickname is a local moniker for Piedmont’s stadium, not a neutral venue. High School On SI and official AHSAA records confirm the game was played on Piedmont’s home turf.
What’s the history between Piedmont and Mars Hill Bible?
The two schools haven’t met in the playoffs since 2018, when Mars Hill Bible won 31-14 in the semifinals. Since then, Piedmont has rebuilt its program under head coach Dale Whitmore, who took over in 2021. This is their first trip to the semifinals since 2015. Mars Hill Bible, meanwhile, has reached the state title game in four of the last five years.
Did weather or field conditions affect the game?
Temperatures hovered around 58°F with light rain in the second quarter, making the field slick. That’s why both teams struggled with passing early. But Piedmont’s running game thrived—their offensive line dominated in muddy conditions, gaining 247 yards on the ground. Gordo, relying more on the pass, saw their completion rate drop from 68% in the first half to 41% in the second.
What’s at stake for Piedmont in the semifinals?
A win over Mars Hill Bible sends Piedmont to the Class 3A state championship game for the first time in 18 years. A loss means the end of a historic 13-0 season. But more than that, it’s about legacy. If they win, Piedmont becomes the first team from Calhoun County to reach the state final since 2007. For a town that hasn’t won a state title since 1987, this isn’t just football—it’s history in the making.