Bishop McGiunness 42, Piedmont 15: Irish get back on track, rout 'Cats

By Scott Sharp

Published: September 27, 2008

After starting the season 0-2, two-time defending Class 4A state champion Bishop McGuinness began to right the ship last week with a one-point victory over Millwood. Friday night, it was smooth sailing as the Irish cruised past Piedmont 43-15.

Senior quarterback Ryan Randolph rushed for 142 yards and threw for 108 more. Randolph had touchdown runs of 13, 7, and 53 yards and passed for three scores.

But despite the big win and moving his team to 2-2, Randolph was hesitant to say his team is back to playing championship football just yet.

"I hope we are,” Randolph said. "Tonight we just wanted to take some of the momentum from the Millwood game and build on it.”

And build they did, mounting score on top of score while holding Piedmont out of the end zone until the fourth quarter. McGuinness featured a more option-oriented attack against Piedmont with Randolph becoming increasingly effective as a runner as the game went on. Though Randolph did find Tate Triska for two touchdown passes and Michael Lewis for a third, running the ball was McGuinness' priority.

"I knew we would run the ball a little bit more with the option this week, but I wasn't sure how much,” Randolph said. "I will do either one, run or pass. Whatever the team needs me to do.”

Piedmont (1-3) did expose a few lingering soft spots on the McGuinness defensive front. The Wildcats rushed for 228 yards, most coming straight up the middle from running backs Timmy Steeds and Evan Heath. Both finished with a touchdown and Steeds had 136 yards.

Nonetheless, the Irish are starting to look like state title contenders once again.

"A state title is always our goal,” Randolph said. "But right now we are just trying to take it one game at a time.”

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