The Piedmont High School boys football beat host Newark Memorial, 42-28 on Nov. 8 to finish the regular season 6-4, 4-1 in West Alameda County Conference Mission League play.
The Highlanders earned a North Coast Section Division 6 playoff berth and will play at St. Patrick-St. Vincent-Vallejo on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. Piedmont is seeded second in the bracket but the No. 7 Bruins won their league and get to host.
Jimmy Lagios completed 10 of 15 passes for 216 yards and four touchdowns against the Cougars. In his final three games of the regular season, Lagios completed 35 of 55 passes for 613 yards with nine touchdowns against just one interception.
Cash Panico caught three passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns against Newark Memorial. Xavier Henderson returned from a concussion and rushed for 130 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns.
The Cougars (0-10, 0-5) did not look like a winless team early on. Piedmont failed on an onside kick to open the game and New Memorial went right down the field for a touchdown on a six-yard run by Tristan Lat. After Piedmont turned the ball over on downs, the Cougars got another touchdown to go up 14-0. This time it was a four-yard run by Jacob Malimban.
But the Highlanders quickly righted the ship, embarking on a seven-play, 70-yard drive with Henderson cashing it in on a one-yard run.
Rehan Mumtaz recovered a fumble by Newark Memorial quarterback Josh Gardetto at the Cougars 44, and three plays later, Lagios connected on a 25-yard scoring pass to Jack Meyjes. The Highlanders missed the extra point and Newark Memorial held on to a 14-13 lead.
Piedmont forced a punt and quickly took the lead on the first play, with Lagios hitting Panico on a 51-yard touchdown and the score was 20-14 at halftime. Henderson scored on a 20-yard run on the first possession of the third quarter. The Cougars answered with a 22-yard run by Malimban. He finished the night with 126 yards and two
touchdowns on 19 carries.
However, the Highlanders ran right down the field, covering 65 yards in five plays with Lagios and Dash Waters-Worthen hooking up on a 12-yard touchdown pass.
Early in the fourth quarter, Lagios found Panico from 52 yards out to make it 42-21. Gardetto scored on a three-yard run late for Newark Memorial.
St. Patrick-St. Vincent is 7-3 on the season, going 5-0 in the Tri-County Stone League. The Bruins lost at home to Berean Christian, 28-21. Piedmont defeated the Eagles, 45-12. That is the only common opponent for the teams.
Sophomore Curtis Berry IV has passed for 852 yards on the year with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Dylan Santos rushed for 1,074 yards and 13 touchdowns. Santos also had 100 yards in seven of his team’s games. Baron Laxa is the leading receiver with 40 catches for 435 yards and six touchdowns. Laxa also leads the team with 44 solo tackles.
The winner of the game will face the winner of Redwood Christian-Willits.