BEARVILLE — Pierce County got in a lot of wind sprints Friday night on the offensive side of the ball in an opening scrimmage against outmatched Groves High.
The August 1 matchup, won by a 562 margin, wrapped up the first week of schools donning pads in preparation for the upcoming 2025 season. PCHS wraps up its pre-season Friday night when Class 5A Glynn Academy visits for a 7:30 p.m. start.
“Our (coaches) pre-game talk to the players was just to go out and have fun,” said head coach Ryan Herring. “After being in pads for the first time, I just wanted the team to play hard and have fun and that’s what they did.
“There are plenty of things to correct on both sides of the ball. We’re going to concentrate on us for the next two weeks to get ready for August 22 when everything starts for keeps.”
While Groves (8-86 since 2015) was a good opening act for a team replacing 18 starters, the Terrors will be a different animal.
“Glynn Academy is going to be a good test for us,” said Herring. “I’ve heard their (Terrors) offense has been switched to the old Georgia Southern double-slot (“Hambone’) triple option. That’s going to be a headache for us defensively. The good thing is it will make us more well-rounded seeing a different type of offense.”
Glynn Academy finished 6-5 last season under Rocky Hidalgo (12th season) reaching the playoffs for 17th straight year and 19th in the last 20 seasons.
For the PCHS offense, running lanes may close quicker or may not exist against a bigger and better defensive unit the Terrors will put on the field.
Pierce County’s first unit only snapped the all 13 times in the first half with five plays ending in touchdown runs of 75, 22, 23, 65 and 34 yards as the Bears bolted to a 42-0 lead by intermission.
PCHS scored three plays after the opening kick when linebacker Rowan McCrea scooted 16 yards for a score off an interception, one of four by the defensive unit on the night. The Bears also recorded a fifth turnover (three first team, three second team and jayvee) with a fumble recovery.
Pierce County’s first offensive snap came with 3:34 left in the first quarter. Jae’Veon Williams (three carries, 98 yards) darted 75 yards for the score followed by a 22-yard burst for his second score on his next attempt.
Quarterback Drake Dowling (two carries, 57 yards) raced 23 yards after a Nigel Brown interception. He added a 34-yard scoring jaunt to close out the first half.
Dylan Johnson (three carries, 86 yards) split the Dowling touchdown runs with a 65-yard sprint.
Garrett Stevenson tacked on all six PATs in the 42-point uprising.
During the third quarter, quarterback Jack McClellan (4-of-6, 120 yards) connected with Beck Hodges (two catches, 45 yards) from 16 yards out and capped the night in the jayvee quarter with a 77-yard pass to Damon Moody.
Kade Meeks was perfect on both PATs.
PCHS finished with 404 yards of total offense with 250 on the ground and 154 through the air.
Meanwhile, the Bears’ defense surrendered just 73 yards. They threw Groves for minus-21 yards rushing while allowing 94 yards through the air.
