Mars Hill Bible Dominates Piedmont in Class 3A Semifinal Showdown
FLORENCE, AL – The No. 4-ranked Mars Hill Panthers (13-1) cruised past the No. 2-ranked Piedmont Bulldogs (13-1) in a dominant 49-20 victory in the Class 3A playoff semifinals on Friday night in Florence.
Caden Chandler Leads the Charge on Offense
Mars Hill senior running back Caden Chandler headlined the Panthers’ offense with a standout performance, rushing for 234 yards on 24 carries and finding the end zone four times. Junior Hudson Higgins added to the Panthers’ ground dominance, tallying 177 rushing yards on 25 carries and scoring three touchdowns.
Piedmont’s Efforts
Despite the lopsided outcome, Piedmont’s Coleman Wilson delivered an impressive show through the air. The Bulldogs’ quarterback completed 30-of-52 passes for 328 yards, throwing two touchdowns. Wilson connected with standout receiver Rollie Pinto on a 9-yard touchdown pass and found Ish Bethel for an 11-yard score. Pinto shined with 12 receptions, racking up 205 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, William Gunn added a 4-yard touchdown run for the Bulldogs.
Tanner Caudle Anchors Mars Hill Defense
On the defensive side, senior Tanner Caudle, a North Alabama commit, played a pivotal role in the Panthers’ victory. Caudle recorded an interception, broke up four passes, and registered eight tackles, helping to stifle Piedmont’s efforts throughout the game.
Up Next for the Panthers
With the win, Mars Hill punches its ticket to the Class 3A state championship game, where they will face Houston Academy (13-1). The championship showdown is set for 11 a.m. on Thursday at Protective Stadium in Birmingham.
