BEARVILLE — A threetouchdown surge in the opening seven minutes of the third quarter lifted Pierce County to a 20-7 hard-fought victory here Friday night over visiting Coosa Christian School of Gadsden, Ala.
The opening night matchup on First Responders Recognition Night pitted the Class AA third-ranked Bears against Alabama’s Class AA second- ranked Conquerors in the return of famed head coach Rush Propst in an interim position.
The win was the 13 consecutive in home openers for PCHS dating back to 2012 and improved the Bears’ record to 12-3 in season openers since 2011. Meanwhile, Coosa Christian suffered its 16th consecutive loss in season openers since 2009.
“We played Groves and Glynn Academy in scrimmages,” said head coach Ryan Herring. “This team was light years ahead of both so it was a big, big, big step up in competition. We needed it. Usually, you learn more about yourself after a loss. We learned a lot tonight in a win. That was a very good team we beat.”
Pierce County’s retooled offense struggled in the first half against the Conquerors. In six first half possessions, the Bears crossed midfield three times with the deepest penetration the Coosa Christian 36. That came on the last possession of the first half.
“They (Conquerors) gave us some exotic looks,” said Herring of the offensive struggles. “We missed some little opportunities, but it was tough. They’ve got some good looking kids and it was hard to get things going.
“My hat’s off to them. They had all year and all off season, all summer, to prep for our offense, and they did a good job.”
Trailing 7-0 at intermission, Pierce County seized the momentum on the opening kick of the third period.
Sophomore backup quarterback Jack McClellan and junior Braden McKendree met the Conquerors’ Kylen Johnson at the Coosa Christian 19 with McClellan’s impact knocking the ball loose. Sophomore Grayson Arington pounced on the ball at the Conquerors’ 17.
PCHS scored four plays later when junior running back Jae’Veon Williams (15 carries, 73 yards) scored the first of his two touchdowns on a five-yard run off left tackle. Garrett Stevenson’s PAT knotted the score at 7-apiece with 9:33 left in the period.
The big play was an 11yard pass from Drake Dowling (4-of-9, one interception, 56 yards), making his first varsity start, connecting with junior wide receiver Chance Williams (four catches 54 yards) for a 10-yard gain on third-and-eight to the Conquerors’ five setting up the touchdown.
Following a three-andout by Coosa Christian, the Bears’ second drive started at their own 30. They needed one play to take the lead.
Sophomore Dylan Johnson, on his lone carry of the game, found a crease at right tackle, ran through and under some arm tackles, and outran several would-be tacklers en route to the score. A bad snap foiled the PAT attempt of Stevenson leaving the score at 13-7 with 7:16 showing on the clock.
Three plays after the ensuing kick and facing third-and-10 from its own 20, Coosa Christian quarterback Mac Long’s (14-of-27, interception, 178 yards) pass was intercepted by Johnson and returned 15 yards setting up PCHS 16 yards from the end zone, “It was just momentum,” Herring said of the sudden change of events. “Dylan scores and gets a pick. It was like Superman all sudden showed up.”
Again, the Bears would punch in a touchdown in four plays with Williams carrying on each of the final three snaps. His second five-yard effort came on a run to the left. Stevenson’s PAT pushed the margin to 20-7 with 4:43 left in the third quarter.
“Different people stepped up,” said Herring. “Dylan had the touchdown run and then the pick. Jack caused the fumble on the kickoff. Two sophomores made some pivotal plays in the game for us.”
During the 4:50 blitz, PCHS turned two turnovers into points needing just nine plays to wipeout a 7-0 deficit into a 20-7 lead turning the game around.
Coosa Christian did follow the Bears’ final touchdown with an 11-play, 5:40 drive from its own 31 to the PCHS 11. The Conquerors’ drive stalled at the Pierce County 11 with a fourth down incomplete pass on the third snap of the final period.
The Bears followed with one more fourth down stop on Coosa Christians’ last possession of the night — that ending with exactly six minutes to play.
PCHS did not give the ball back picking up three first downs reaching the Conquerors’ 13 with its last possession.
“We made a lot of mistakes, but we still fought,” said Herring. “We had little adversity, but we still fought. We had some guys go down at times, but we still fought. There were plenty of chances to have doubts.”
Coosa Christian scored the only touchdown of the first half turning a Bears’ turnover into seven points late in the first quarter. A PCHS fumble after reaching the Conquerors’ 38 lost 22 yards with the visitors recovering at the Pierce County 40.
The Conquerors scored in four plays, the last cov-ering 23 yards on a pass from Long to Johnson (six catches, 88 yards) along the Coosa Christian sideline. Jorge Cantellano added the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 2:39 left in the half.
PCHS gave the Conquerors great field position two minutes into the second period when a fourth-and-three was stopped behind the line.
Coosa Christian moved from the PCHS 47 to the Bears’ eight. Cantellano’s 25-yard field goal attempt with 6:37 left in the first half was wide left.
