When junior Ted Adams saw the football slip out, he had two options:

He could he could dive on it to ensure the turnover.

Or he could take a risk. He did.

He picked up the fumble and ran it 80 yards for a Highlanders touchdown, tying the game with 8:14 left in the 4^th quarter. This momentum shift allowed Piedmont to pull off a 24-21 Homecoming win over Alameda, improving the Highlanders’ record to 5-2.

“We needed a touchdown,” Adams said. “I was going all the way.”

The game started off differently, however. The Alameda Hornets scored on the first drive of the game and kept the Purple and White off of the scoreboard until late in the 2^nd quarter, but the Highlanders were resilient. Quarterback junior Spencer Kim connected with senior Jake Pacheco for an 18-yard touchdown, tying the game at seven.

Pacheco credits the offensive line.

“I wasn’t actually the primary read on that play, but [the offensive line] gave us enough time for Spencer to come back to me on the backside so he could throw it right in the corner,” he said.

Piedmont put together another successful drive in the 3^rd quarter, handing the ball off to Pacheco, who ran 60-yards for his second score of the night.

The Hornets would not go down without a fight. Alameda put up two unanswered touchdowns on the ground, pushing past Piedmont 21-14.

The Highlanders went into the 4^th quarter down by seven, but Adams came up big, converting the Alameda fumble into six more points. Kicker junior Ale Chiodo then punched the extra point through, tying the game at 21.

With the ball back in Kim’s hands, the pressure was on. The Highlanders pushed back down the field, allowing Chiodo to split the uprights. This put Piedmont up 24-21 with the clock winding down.

The Hornets had one more shot at victory, but were stopped at a critical 3rd and 11 in Highlanders’ territory. Alameda then failed to convert on 4^th, giving the ball up with 1:11 left on the clock. Kim then took a knee and the game was over.

“We went back to technique, and we just said to each other, ‘we gotta block’, and it’s a whole team effort, it’s not just the offensive line. You gotta have a good quarterback, good receivers and a good offensive line to make a successful team,” offensive lineman senior Steven Tulley said.

Strong defense held the team together, Adams said.

“We had a few mishaps on offense,” he said. “Our defense kept us in the game. They gave us the opportunities we needed.”

Piedmont is playing at Tennyson next Friday.

“We definitely have a good shot at winning league if we stay focused,” Pacheco said.

HOMECOMING COURT

At halftime, four students were honored as members of the Homecoming Court. Juniors Gabe Bolio and Daniella Mohazab won Prince and Princess. Seniors Dylan James-Kavanaugh and Elise Lasky won King and Queen.