The Piedmont Academy Cougars have had one thing on their minds this offseason: Get back to the playoffs. 

Following a 9-4 season in 2021, the Cougars have their eyes set on not only qualifying for the playoffs, but making another playoff run to the state title game. 

Head coach Clint Satterfield, who is entering his second season at the helm, has high hopes for the 2022 team as he gets them primed for another push into the postseason.

“I am excited for the [new season], Satterfield said. “I am trying to build on what we did last year. That was my first year here and I was extremely pleased with the outcome of last season, but I am excited going into this year.”

The fuel that’s motivating the Cougars’ high hopes for the season ahead comes from the last time they touched a football field in 2021. They walked off the field after a 27-13 defeat against Thomas Jefferson Academy in the Georgia Independent Schools Association’s  Class AA championship game. 

Piedmont Academy blazed a dominant path to advance to the championship game, though. 

After beating Gatewood in the final game of the regular season last year, Piedmont Academy took down both Fullington Academy and Georgia Christian in the first two rounds of the playoffs by a combined score of 104-15.

Despite the state championship loss, Satterfield feels confident that his team is primed for another push as they return many key players.

Piedmont will return quarterback Justin Reynolds, who was named to the GISA all-state team following the 2021 season.

Running back Michael Joseph and wide receiver Luke Welch will both return following their strong seasons where they were named All-Region for GISA-AA.

The defensive side has a few questions to answer as Piedmont will only return three starters from last year’s unit. Satterfield mentioned that he will be looking towards safety Tay Jones and defensive linemen Eli Peugh and Rashad Flemming to fill in the gaps left by last year’s seniors.

Spencer Carter is another player Satterfield is high on, as he foresees the senior making an impact on both sides of the ball for the Cougars in 2022.

Piedmont Academy will begin the 2022 season in GISA Region-AA, where it faces familiar foes such as Gatewood and Brentwood.

The Cougars will have a few tough matchups in the regular season as they face Terrell Academy and Central Fellowship Christian. Both teams finished with more than 10 wins in 2021.

As Satterfield looks ahead to his second year leading the Cougars, the team looks primed and ready for another playoff push in hopes of claiming the GISA-AA Championship.