PIEDMONT — Clements hung with Piedmont for one quarter, but the Bulldogs scored five touchdowns in the second quarter to pull away and take an eventual 41-0 win in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.

The game was scoreless after the first quarter, as Piedmont was held to just 8 yards rushing by Clements’ defense. However, the Bulldogs changed their offensive tactics in the second quarter and started running between the tackles very effectively. Piedmont rushed for 104 yards in the second quarter while passing for 105.

A 20-yard punt return by T.J. Fairs to the Clements 34-yard line early in the second quarter seemed to energize Piedmont. Quarterback Mason Mohon capped the six-play drive — all on the ground — with an 11-yard run at right tackle behind guard Steven Raney and tackle Preston Odam.

Clements fumbled on the next play from scrimmage. Matthew Thornton recovered the loose ball at the Colts’ 30 and scored from there for a 14-0 advantage.

Clements fumbled once again three plays later, with Thornton recovering at the Piedmont 49. Mohon passed to D’Angelo Foster for 39 yards to the Clements 12 then Fairs scored on a sweep from 12 yards out. Fairs was also Piedmont’s leading receiver with five catches for 49 yards.

Elijah Johnson scored Piedmont’s fourth touchdown of the quarter on a 12-yard run with 2:01 to go in the half. Kaedon Jenkins closed out the scoring with a 22-yard run with 19.1 seconds on the second-quarter clock to put Piedmont up 34-0 at halftime.

Piedmont’s final touchdown came on Matthew Pfledderer’s 1-yard run after an 8-minute drive to start the third quarter.

Piedmont (9-2) will travel to Blountsville next week to take on J.B. Pennington (6-5) in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs. Clements ended its season at 4-7.