Phil Campbell’s football campaign concludes after first round playoff loss at No. 2 Piedmont

The Phil Campbell High School varsity football team’s 2025 season came to a close on Thursday night after the Bobcats were beaten on the road by No. 2 Piedmont 59-19.

The game was the last in a campaign that saw Phil Campbell reach a final 6-5 record, the program’s first winning season since 2022; score a record-setting 76 points in single game in a region win over Hanceville; and score a record 387 total points, the most any PCHS team has scored in one season.

In the game against Piedmont, the Bobcats fell behind early to the undefeated Bulldogs and trailed 59-6 at the halftime break.

Phil Campbell’s lone first half score came early in the game on a short touchdown pass from junior quarterback Hayston Scott to receiver Austin Elliott. The score followed a long kickoff return that gave the Bobcats’ offense possession at the Piedmont two yard line to start the drive. The touchdown made it 8-6, Piedmont, at the time.

Phil Campbell junior Brady Williams attempts to tackle a Piedmont ball-carrier. (Photo by Ken Grissom)

The next two touchdowns for PCHS were scored in the third quarter.

Early in the second half, Scott completed another short touchdown pass to Elliott, this time from eight yards out, to cut Piedmont’s lead to 59-13 after the extra point. The final touchdown of the game was scored with 1:40 left in the third when Scott hit senior receiver Hagen Raper for a 20-yard score.

Scott, who is fifth in the state in all classifications in total yards, finished the night with seven completions for 56 yards, three touchdowns, and an interception. Elliott, who caught five of Scott’s passes, ended the game with 33 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

The quarterback also led his team in the ground attack with six carries for 86 yards. Braxton Downey added five carries for 12 yards for the Bobcats.

The morning after Phil Campbell’s final game of 2025, Bobcats’ head coach Jacob Hamilton reflected on the season—his third in charge of the program.

“It was a great year, and we accomplished our goals of having a winning season and making the playoffs. Everybody wants to make a run at it, but you have to take these things as they come, one step at a time,” Hamilton said.

“When you first take a (head coaching) job, everybody says, ‘You can’t change your seniors, you can try to mold your juniors, but everything else is yours.’ Well, this is year three so the seniors this year and everyone below them are mine,” he added. “I told them last night that they’ve made their mark on this program, and they’ve set the standard for years to come.

“(This season) and what we’ve done is a big credit to our players and our coaches,” Hamilton said, listing off his team’s accomplishments.

“Now (the players) know what to expect—what the expectations are—and know what they can do, and we can build on that and be even better next year.”