Girls football developing, says coach
The Piedmont High School girls football team lost to St. Mary’s-Albany 21-6 at Witter Field on August 28. While the team lost, they are developing very well, said head coach Beth Black.
Black said she was pleased with how the Highlanders played, despite losing.
“It was clear to me, within about two-three minutes into the first quarter, they were focused individually, and they were running strong routes,” Black said.
Starting quarterback sophomore Edie Elmquist was benched after tweaking her ankle.
“(St. Marys) had this amazing punt, and it went to the one yard line for us, and so they pinned us deep,” Black said. “Edie tried to run out of the endzone to get us out of there, and they got a safety. Edie kind of tweaked her ankle a little bit coming out of that.”
Elmquist was Piedmont’s leading rusher, running for 57 yards on 13 carries. She completed five of 22 passes for 28 yards.
“I did run the ball a lot,” Elmquist said. “It was because, although our receivers do their best, there are times where they don’t run their routes correctly, and if I don’t see them I’m going to run the ball.”
The Highlanders scored their touchdown with about two minutes, 20 seconds left when Malia Williams busted out loose for a 24-yard scoring run. It was a quick, three-play drive with backup quarterback Agatha Filha Gama taking over. Filha Gama ran for 16 yards, then completed a pass to Anjali Bowers for 10.
“Agatha did a run play right away, stepped right up as quarterback, and then had a running play out to Malia, and then Malia took it right up the sideline. It was beautiful,” Black said.
While offense performed well, defense struggled a bit more although safety Dahlia Osman had two interceptions.
“Defense was not the same caliber of defense that I have seen last year from these exact same players, and they are aware of that,” Black said. “Now that being said, there were strong moments. The area for us to improve is flag pulling.”
Rusher and linebacker senior Elspeth Grippando said defense’s zones were not covered properly, and that the team chemistry is not at the point that it should be, but that they are working on it.
Eli Kumenis had a rushing and receiving touchdown for St. Mary’s, which is now 3-0 on the season. The Panthers outgained the Highlanders, 221-124.