“Fundamentals, fundamentals, fundamentals.”
With six consecutive 11-plus win seasons, four region titles and two state championships in the Ryan Herring era, the veteran coach and his staff are facing their first obstacle.
PCHS is facing the challenge of having just one starter on offense while three return to the defensive side. It’s by far the least experienced team for Herring, who has a 72-9 record.
“A lot of these guys haven’t taken any varsity reps in the game and they are starting,” Herring said. “I’ve got no complaints because they are working ... I’m happy with how they work. It’s been a lot to learn but, I think they understand it’s their time now. I’ve got to embrace it.
“The whole thing is the team concepts and that’s got to be number one. People talk about culture of pride, dedication, commitment and effort. Our culture is our locker room.
“I think we’ve got a good locker room ... I think we’ve got good kids. We’re going to have a lot of young players out there this year. There’s a lot of potential there.”
There are just 15 seniors on the 2025 PCHS squad. “We’re not an old, experienced team in any way,” Herring said. “We’ve got two seniors (Nigel Brown, Johnny Stone) who played in varsity games last year. I don’t know if I’ve ever been that low in my coaching career.”
Summer practices have consisted with a lot of fundamentals being taught. Junior offensive lineman Trenton Kennedy is the only full-time starter returning. Several others were spot starters and in the rotation.
There is experience in the backfield and at the receiver slots with senior Marquez Leggett, junior Jae’Veon Williams and sophomore Dylan Johnson. Brown and junior Chance Williams are the most experienced receivers.
Defensively, junior Logan Spivey is back for the defensive front. Stone, Brown and Williams also have experience.
“This year, more than any year since I've been here we're going to have to play a lot of inexperienced guys,” said Herring. “So, June and July has been ultra important. They (players) have got to be taught the ABCs of their position. They've got to be taught a skill set of what their job entails, of their position.
“We've (coaches) got to get the ABCs taught before we start moving on in the alphabet. The ABCs are blocking, tackling, stance, start, you know, alignment and assignment.”
Pierce County will officially don pads Monday, July 28. The Bears will host Groves in a scrimmage Friday, August 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Glynn Academy visits Friday, August 8 for a 7:30 p.m. scrimmage.
The regular season begins two weeks later (Friday, August 22) when Coosa Christian School of Gasden, Ala., comes calling at 7:30 p.m.
