Third-ranked Bears have won eight consecutive games in Caney Bay
BEARVILLE — Third-ranked Pierce County renews its rivalry with Brantley County Friday night when the two teams meet for the 44th time at Caney Bay Stadium.
Both the Bears (6-1 overall, 31 region) and Herons (3-4, 2-2) are coming off byes following October 8 and October 9 victories. PCHS blasted Tattnall County 56-17 at home in a rare Thursday night affair while Brantley County recorded a 2714 road win in Savannah over Johnson to end a two-game skid.
“I think it (bye) was real beneficial because we’ve got about four guys who have some sprains, strains and bruises,” said head coach Ryan Herring. “So in that sense, it was really good for us. The other good thing is we got to work on us a lot ... work on some things we needed to work on.
“I feel like we worked on those areas. The biggest thing was for us to improve during the week off on some things just dealing with us and not worrying about anybody else.”
PCHS has won 15 consecutive times to open up a 30-13 series advantage — the most played opponent in the 46th year of the program. The only two years the teams did not meet were 2000 and 2001 when Pierce County was in Class 3A. The Herons have played Charlton County the most with 48 meetings.
The Bears are 12-0 when entering ranked against Brantley County. Pierce County has won eight consecutive times in Caney Bay where it is 14-7.
During PCHS’s 15-game winning streak, the Bears have won by an average score of 45.3 to 10.7 scoring 47 more points than in the first 28 meetings. Pierce County’s overall scoring margin in the series is 30.5 to 14.1. The Bears have held BCHS to eight points or less 11 times in the past 15 games including the last eight games.
PCHS and the Herons have faced two common region foes. Both teams lost to top-ranked Toombs County (28-7 Bears, 717 BCHS) and both beat Johnson-Savannah (48-6 Bears, 27-14 BCHS).
There is also some intrigue between the two head coaches. Brantley County is being led by alum Matt Hickox, who served seven years on Herring’s coaching staff and was the Bears’ defensive coordinator a year ago.
It’s the 22nd time in series history of different coaches and the first for Herring facing a former assistant in charge of the opposing program.
“Coach Hickox did a great job for us,” said Herring. “He’ll kind of know everything we’re doing and how we do things. So there’s some a little bit of a different angle in prepping for this game. He knows everything we do. So we’ve (coaches) got to think about a lot of things. Bigger than that, though, is we’ve just we just got to have a good week prep ... that’s the main thing.”
Hickox took what he had learned under Herring and is implementing that knowledge with his own wrinkles.
BCHS runs its version of the “Big Bear” offensive scheme and has added the option.
“They’re getting in some two tight end sets, but running some option stuff out of the pistol,” said Herring. “That’s pretty good stuff. You’ve (defensive players) got to be where you’re supposed to be, somebody’s got to be able to take the dive, and somebody’s got to take quarterback.
“Several times it’s a double option and sometimes it’s a triple option.”
PCHS’s offense will operate against a 3-4 scheme very similar to what the Bears’ defensive unit runs. Pierce County has pummeled Beach and Tattnall County averaging 470 yards on the ground in the last two games and eight touchdowns.
“We’re going into the game with an idea of what we (coaches) think we might see,” said Herring. “Once we get out there, we’ll get to see what their (Brantley coaches) presentation is. What are we looking at? If it’s anything that’s giving us a problem, then we’ve (coaches) got to be ready to make adjustments.”
“The big thing is I don’t want to have to make adjustments to halftime. I’d like to make them before we get to halftime. I’d like to make them in between possessions. I want to be able to make them quicker.”
Herring expects to have Jae’Veon Williams back to nearly full strength from a foot injury. Williams led the state in rushing at the midway point of the season.
Dylan Johnson rushed for over 520 yards and scored 10 touchdowns filling in for Williams. Jack McClelland totaled 250 yards and three scores in Williams’ absence.
PCHS vs. BCHS Bears lead 30-13 PCHS BCHS
1981 ..........23 ..............0
1982 ..........27 ..............8
1983 ..........21...............6
1984 ............6.............10
1985 ..........36.............19
1986 ............7 .............12
1987 ............6 ..............8
1988..........20 ............26
1989...........15 ............20
1990 ..........13 ............26
1991 ...........12 ..............0
1992...........21 .............14
1993 ..........35...............6
1994 ..........49 ..............0
1995 ..........49 ..............0
1996 ..........44.............19
1997.............7 ............24
1998..........32.............21
1999 ..........26 ............29
2002 .........38 ............20
2003 .........35 ............28
2004..........14 ............28
2005..........12 ............24
2006 ...........0.............19
2007 .........28.............13
2008 .........37 .............21
2009..........14 .............17
2010............6 ............26
2011...........35.............18
2012...........51...............7
2013 ..........57...............6
2014 ..........35 ..............0
2015 ..........35 ............20
2016..........49.............43
2017 ..........48.............18
2018..........49...............7
2019..........56...............7
2020 .........49...............7
2021 ..........35...............6
2022 .........39...............7
2023..........56 ..............8
2024 .........42...............7
2025..........44 ..............0
Total ..1,313........605
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