BEARVILLE — Third-ranked Pierce County, fresh off an open date, plays its first home game of the season Friday night hosting Swainsboro on First Responders Night.
The Bears (2-0), who opened the season winning 55-0 at Coosa Christian School in Gadsden, AL, and 47-26 at Brooks County, head into the matchup in search of a 14th consecutive home opening win. PCHS (24-21 all-time; 70 under Ryan Herring) has not lost an opening act at home since falling 44-41 to Swainsboro in 2012.
Pierce County is 165-101 overall at home entering its 46th season including 94-15 during its current 15-year streak of playoff appearances.
Swainsboro (1-2) entered the season as the Class AA preseason second-ranked team. The Tigers fell 36-35 at home in overtime to Cook in their 2026 lidlifter. They held off homestanding ECI 28-21 for Emmanuel County bragging rights in Game 2.
The Tigers jumped out 14-0 on visiting Class AAA top-ranked Toombs County last week before getting run over 49-21. Bulldog running back Donterrius Mincey scored all seven touchdowns for Toombs County on runs of 75, 21, 14, 11, 8, 2 and 2 yards finishing with 255 yards on 29 carries.
“Swainsboro dominated Toombs in the first half,” said Herring. “They (Tigers) hurt themself late in the half when they had a chance to go up 21-7. I’m telling you, when they want to play they can. I hope they don’t want to play when we kick off.
“They are as physical as Brooks County. They have a lot of guys who can run and hit. It’s going to be a war just like the Brooks County game. This is a tough one.”
Friday’s meeting is the eighth between the two schools and first since 2013. The Tigers hold a 4-3 advantage.
Pierce County’s biggest win in the series was a 38-20 Region 2-AA playoff win at home in 1994 after falling 40-15 to Swainsboro in the regular season.
The Tigers, in search of the 600th victory in program history, have a lot of returning talent who received postseason accolades following a Class A DI state semifinal appearance in a 10-4 season in 2025. The Swainsboro offense is led junior quarterback Joshua Gray (6-foot-2, 175 lbs.), who was second team all-Region 3-A, first team senior wide receiver Shannon Benjamin (5-11, 160), second team sophomore running back Kyle Johnson, second team senior wide receiver Marco Danford (6-foot, 160), and second team junior offensive lineman Qua Cuyler (5-foot-11, 230). “They (Tigers’ offensive coaches) are going to try and be balanced between the run game and passing game,” Herring said. “Swainsboro did some really good things against Toombs County. They (Tigers) gave away the game to Cook because they couldn’t snap the ball and had like 10 fumbles.”
Gray has completed 56 percent of his passes this season for 244 yards and four scores through two games. Benjamin has seven catches for 90 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson has rushed for 194 yards on 17 attempts (11.4 per rush) and has caught three pass for 43 yards and two touchdowns. Danford entered the ECI contest with five catches for 55 yards and a score.
“The quarterback is not real fast, but can throw the ball,” said Herring of the Swainsboro playmakers. “The running back runs hard. All the receivers look good.
“The key for us is we have to tackle No. 6 (Johnson). We’ve also got to defend the deep ball.”
Returning to the defensive side of the ball, a unit that has three interceptions and two fumble recoveries during the first two games, are first team all-Region/honorable mention all-state senior defensive lineman Christian Tarver (6-1, 225), University of Florida commit and first team senior linebacker Ja’bios Smith (6-3, 205), first team senior defensive back Jayden Wilcher (5-9, 185) and second team senior defensive lineman Jakobi Woods (5-11).
Tarver has nine tackles with two tackles for loss, a quarterback sack and a blocked punt. Smith is tied with with senior outside linebacker Derek Hughes (6-2, 200) for the team lead in tackles with 22. Sophomore defensive back Caleb Jones (5-9, 145) has 17 stops while Wilcher has 13 tackles along with Woods.
“They (Tigers) run a 3-4 defense and are well versed in it,” said Herring. “They will mix up the coverage between man and zone. We’ve got to be efficient when we have the ball. We’ve got to get first downs and connect on our throws.”
SHS vs. PCHS Tigers lead 4-3 SHS PCHS
1994 ............40 ...........15 #20 ..........38 1995...............7 ...........12 2000 ...........49 ............0 2001 ............21 ...........19 2012 ............44 ...........41 2013 ............29...........43
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