BEARVILLE — Several streaks are on the line Friday night when Class AA thirdranked Pierce County opens the 2025 campaign against Coosa Christian School of Gadsden, Ala., ranked second in the Class AA poll in Alabama.
The matchup gained national attention with the Wednesday, August 13 breaking announcement of legendary coach Rush Propst’s return to the sideline as interim coach for the Conquerors. Coosa Christian is his ninth school during a 30-plus year career that included stops in Georgia at Colquitt County and Valdosta.
Propst will have had six days of practice with the team and a scrimmage coming in.
“Rush has got some things he’s always done on offense,” said Bears’ head coach Ryan Herring, “There’s certain things he’s going to do. He’s probably going to try to have good balance and throw the ball down the field. He’s always going to take shots down the field. That’s just his MO. He’s also going to throw quick game at you too.”
PCHS rolled to a 41-7 victory in last years opener after spotting the Conquerors a 7-0 first quarter lead. “I think it’s going to be real similar to last year,” said Herring, who is entering his seve n t h season. “They (Conquerors) drove right down the field and scored on the first drive and stopped us on our first two possessions. We caught some breaks right before halftime and ran a kickoff back to start the third quarter to gain the momentum.
“I think it’s going to be a four quarter game. We’ve got to be relentless on both sides of the ball, being efficient on offense, play smart and hopefully that will take its toll on them.”
The Bears are 11-3 over the last 14 years in season openers winning their last three winning by an average score of 46-6. They have scored 40-plus points eight times during this stretch winning by a 34.9-15.6 margin.
Pierce County has won 12 consecutive home openers since a 44-41 setback against Swainsboro in 2012. The Bears are 169 this century in that category.
Meanwhile, Coosa Christian is entering it 50th season and sports 27-10-1 record vs Georgia schools. The Conquerors joined the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) in 2005 and are 80-133 during the first 20 years. They have dropped 15 consecutive season openers with the last 1-0 start coming in 2009.
The Bears, who dropped one spot from its No. 2 pre-season ranking, have not played since beating up Class 5A Glynn Academy August 8 in a scrimmage. That followed a trouncing of overmatched Groves in an August 1 scrimmage.
“Our guys ready to play a real game,” said Herring. “It’s not going to be an easy game, I can tell you that. They’ve (Conquerors) got too much speed at spots. They’re going to be dangerous and we’ve go to make sure we keep them in front of us. But I think the kids are looking forward to playing a real game.”
Herring believes Coosa Christian’s off ense will be similar to last season.
“They’ve (Conquerors) got a good looking offense line that returns from last year and it’s five good looking kids,” said Herring. “Their number 55 (Zayden Franklin, Sr., 6-foot-2, 240) is really good. They’ve got real good skill perimeter players. They’ve got a running back committed to Kentucky.
“They had a quarterback move in during the summer and he can really throw it. They have a lot of speed at running back and lot of speed receiver, the quarterback and throw the ball. Could get anywhere he wants to.
“We’ve got to be sound, especially when the balls in the air. We’ve got to keep people in front of us. We can’t let them get behind us because they will run right by you.” On the defensive side of the ball, the Conquerors are going to be multiple with their fronts. “I think their base is an odd-man front, but they’ll jump into an even front also,” said Herring. “I do know they have a defensive back that’s getting offers.
“It’s going to be efficient when we have the ball. We’ve got to win first down and have manageable second and third down situations. We’ve got to be able to keep their offensive skilled athletes off the field.”
Coosa Christian struggled in the kicking game last year, but Herring doesn’t that will be the case Friday night.
“I’ve got a feeling they’ll be better in that area,” he said.
