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Piedmont (9-2) traveled to Leighton to meet the defending state champion Colbert County Indians (9-2) in the second round of the playoffs on Nov. 18, 1994. The game proved to be a classic at C.T. Manley Stadium.            Steve Stanley scored the winning touchdown on a five-yard run with eight seconds remaining in the game to cap a miraculous comeback by the Indians. Colbert County has a long and storied tradition of winning big football games and when they play at home it creates a difficult situation for the visiting team. This evening would be no different for Piedmont.            The Indians trailed 26-14 entering the fourth quarter before rallying for two quick touchdowns to take a 28-26 lead. Not to be denied, the Bulldogs came back to grab the lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game setting up the heroics by Stanley.            The Piedmont Bulldogs opening drive resulted in a touchdown. Greg Nation dashed 59 yards during the drive to set up Morrow's 4-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 early lead. The Indians came right back scoring on a Mondale Bates' 3-yard run the tie the game 7-7. Piedmont then went on an 80-yard drive capped by a Greg Nation 13-yard run. The extra point was missed but Piedmont led 13-7 with 3:27 left in the first.            Colbert County scored on a Stanley 12-yard run on the first play of the second quarter and following the point after they regained the lead 14-13. Shane Morrow scored on a 19-yard run to give Piedmont the lead just before halftime. A two-point try failed and the two teams went to intermission with Piedmont leading 19-14.            The Bulldogs opened the second half with an 80-yard drive on their first possession. Greg Nation scored on a 5-yard run to widen the lead to 26-14 with 3:33 left in the third. Colbert County came back, driving to the one-yard line before a fumble on fourth down put a halt to their scoring chances on the first play of the fourth quarter.            Following a short punt, the Indians scored on the first play when Stanley hit Ricks for a 36-yard touchdown pass. Robert Gargis booted the extra point and the Indians had cut the lead to 26-21 with 8:58 remaining. Piedmont was unable to move the ball on their next possession and punted to the Indians.            Colbert County quickly found the end zone again on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Stanley to Corinthian Ricks and the Indians had the lead 28-26 with 3:48 left to be played. Following the kickoff, Piedmont drove 71 yards in just six plays.            Shane Morrow caught a double pass from Nation and rambled 42 yards to the Indians 26-yard line on the second play of the drive. Four plays later Nation scored on a 5-yard run with just 2:13 left. Nation ran for the two-point conversion and Piedmont regained the lead 34-28.            Colbert County took over at their 38-yard line following the ensuing kickoff. Six plays later, the Indians faced a fourth-and-four at the Piedmont ten-yard line with 27 seconds remaining in the game. Colbert County called a timeout to set the strategy. Piedmont jumped offsides on the play to give the Indians a first down at the five. After two incomplete passes by Stanley, he scored on a five yard run after weaving through the Bulldogs defense on third down.            Greg Nation led the Bulldogs with 186 yards on 27 carries but it could not overcome the play of Steve Stanley on this evening. Stanley threw for two touchdowns and ran for another two.            The Colbert County Indians defeated J.B. Pennington and Sylvania the next two weeks and surprised Luverne in the state championship game 17-10 to win their second consecutive title.            Piedmont ended a string of seven straight playoff appearances in 1994 and only qualified for the playoffs once over the next eleven season before Coach Steve Smith arrived on the scene in 2006. Piedmont ........................................ 13    6   7   8 -34 Colbert County ..............................   7   7   0 21 -35   Piedmont  - Shane Morrow 4-yard run (Ryan Cobb kick) Colbert County - Mondale Bates 3-yard run (Robert Gargis kick) Piedmont  - Greg Nation 13-yard run (kick missed) 3:27 Colbert County - Steve Stanley 12-yard run (Robert Gargis kick) Piedmont  - Shane Morrow 19-yard run (two-point failed) Piedmont  - Greg Nation 5-yard run (Ryan Cobb kick) 3:33 Colbert County - Steve Stanley 36-yard pass to Corinthian Ricks (Robert Gargis kick) 8:58 Colbert County - Steve Stanley 48-yard pass to Corinthian Ricks (Robert Gargis kick) 3:48 Piedmont  - Greg Nation 5-yard run (Nation run) 2:13 Colbert County - Steve Stanley 5-yard run (Robert Gargis kick) 0:07
Colbert County 1994 9/2 28 Hatton . . . . . . . . . . . . 0 9/9 48 Colbert Heights . . . . 22 9/16 21 Russellville . . . . . . 14 9/23 30 Central Florence . . . 0 9/30 14 Deshler . . . . . . . . . . . 21 10/7 21 Hazlewood . . . . . . . . . 34 10/14 21 Rogers . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 10/21 16 Courtland . . . . . . . . . 14 10/28 41 Lamar County . . . . . . 14 11/4 28 Sheffield . . . . . . . . . 13 11/10 30 Vinemont * . . . . . . . . 0 11/18 35 Piedmont * . . . . . . . . 34 11/25 28 J.B. Pennington * . . . 21 12/2 42 Sylvania * . . . . . . . . 27 12/9 17 Luverne # . . . . . . . . . 10 420 13-2 230 * Playoff game # State championship game	Piedmont 1994 9/2 7 Bowdon GA . . . . . . . . . 0 9/9 6 Cleburne County . . . . 14 9/16 6 Munford . . . . . . . . . . . 21 9/23 41 Cherokee County . . . . 14 9/30 42 Saks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 10/7 41 Jacksonville . . . . . . 9 10/14 28 Handley . . . . . . . . . . . 13 10/21 35 Glencoe . . . . . . . . . . . 8 10/28 41 Pleasant Valley . . . . 6 11/4 42 Weaver . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 11/11 33 Plainview * . . . . . . . 0 11/18 34 Colbert County * . . . 35 356 9-3 140 * Playoff game

  The Memorable Games, a series on the important and memorable games in high school football history

David Parker
  AHSFHS.org
  dparker@ahsfhs.org

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