The Piedmont High School girls football team has achieved a major milestone in its fourth season of existence: A North Coast Section playoff berth.
The Highlanders earned the 10th seed in Division 3 and will open play on Oct. 28 at No. 7 Terra Linda. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
“Every year, we’re one step better, one step better,” coach Beth Black said about her 10-12 Piedmont squad. “Honestly, we know that they’re good enough to be in NCS and we have seen that all season. Not just that we believe in them, we watch their skills in practice.”
Black said her approach to the game is simple.
“Number one is celebrating we’re there,” she said. “No. 2 is recognizing we had the skill to get there based on the strength of the schedule.”
Normally, the Highlanders practice on Monday for a Tuesday game. Piedmont also practices on the baseball field during the week. The extra day before the game means extra time for practice on Witter Field.
The Trojans (12-8) present a new challenge for the Highlanders. Both teams finished fourth in the their respective leagues (Marin County Athletic League, West Alameda County Conference Shoreline League). They have had only one opponent in common — University-San Francisco. Both won that game. Piedmont beat the Red Devils 7-0 on Aug. 25; Terra Linda defeated University 32-12 on Sept. 14.
Those scores show a contrast in the teams. The Highlanders average 14 points per game on offense. The Trojans averaged 19.3.
“It looks like they’ve got a strong offense,” Black said. “They’ve got a quartetrback with a strong arm. They have a good receiver. She plays defense too.”
Mira Weidner is a freshman quarterback with over 3,500 passing yards on the season and has thrown for 32 touchdowns. Piper Stewart is a sophomore receiver with 127 catches and 16 touchdowns. She also has 36 flag pulls.
On Oct. 20, Piedmont defeated visiting Mt. Eden 22-0. On Oct. 22, the Highlanders lost to host Hayward, 26-0. On Oct. 24, visiting San Leandro beat Piedmont 12-6.
In that last game, freshman Emma Wendel, playing up from junior varsity, scored the Highlanders’ touchdown.
Wendel is one of four players up from the junior varsity team.
Black is excited to see the improvement in her team.
“We have seen the communication on the field as a unit,” she said. “That they are adjusting much more quickly. When they are coming off the field, they are talking about it. That level of football and a sense of self, this has been the year that has shifted.”