ZEBULON — Blayne McQuaig’s penalty kick in sudden death lifted Pierce County into its first-ever state title match with a 2-1 (4-3 penalty kicks) victory here Friday night in the semifinals against sixth-seed Pike County.
The seventh-seed Bears (14-5) were making their second “Final Four” appearance, and first since 2023. They lost 5-0 to Providence Christian.
PCHS meets fourthseed and Region 3-AA champion Savannah Arts Academy (16-6) today (Wednesday, May 13) at 7:30 p.m., on the St. Pius X Catholic School campus.
The Panthers shutout PCHS 2-0 during the April 3 regular season meeting in Savannah.
“We have long believed that Region 3 was the most competitive region in Class AA,” said Bears’ head coach Tommy Doss. “Wednesday, Region 3 will have won the AA state championship three of the last four years. We just hope it will be us who wins it.”
Tattnall County won its first-ever title in 2023 with Toombs County following in 2024 with its first. For PCHS and Savannah Arts Academy, it will mark their first championship
‘Final Four’ semifinals No. 7 Bears ..............2 No. 6 Pike Co. ..1 (SD)
McQuaig’s goal in the second sudden death penalty kick phase proved to be the winner when a Pike County attempt sailed over the crossbar.
Pierce County fell into a 1-0 first-half hole against the Pirates.
“We knew we would, again, be facing a similar challenge to the Hart County game (“Elite 8”, 10 win),” said head coach Tommy Doss. “They (Pirates) were by far the biggest/ tallest group of players we have faced, with several players between 6-foot-1 and 6-foot-3 in height.”
According to Doss, Pike County’s greatest strength was their long throwins/ set pieces.
“They also had a player who could throw the ball over halfway across the field,” he said. “This provided them many opportunities to score.”
Despite trailing 1-0 at intermission, Doss said the team felt confident in how they were playing in the last part of the first half.
After being denied on attacks at the net in the second half, Alex Lacot finally found the back of the netting late in the match to even the score at 1apiece.
Neither team scored the rest of regulation or in the two 10-minute overtime periods, sending the match to penalty kicks.
PCHS scored on three of its five kicks, getting scores from Kade Meeks, Fleming Cochran and Lacot. Pike County scored three times with goalie Lucas Sapp blocking two.
The Bears missed on their first sudden death kick with Sapp making a huge save, forcing a second sudden death period.
‘Elite 8’ No. 7 Bears...............1 No. 15 Hart Co. ........0
BEARVILLE — Lacot’s goal 10 minutes into the matchup with Hart County stood the test of time, helping PCHS reach its second “Final Four” match in program history.
Lacot banged home a 20-yard kick past the Bulldogs’ goalie for an early 10 lead.
Doss said the PCHS defense displayed a bend, but don’t break mentality in beating Hart County.
“Their (Bulldogs) most dangerous threats came from long throw-ins combined with a height advantage,” said Doss.
The defense, composed of Austin Branch, Alejandro Perez, Harrison Dia, Meeks and Sapp at goalie kept Hart County at bay despite the pinball action in the box.
