CANEY BAY — Secondranked Pierce County took advantage of great field position in the first half racing out to a 31-0 raindrenched lead en route to a 44-0 victory here over Brantley County.
The Bears (2-0) scored on their first four possessions with the defensive unit scoring once in beating the Herons (0-3) for the 15th consecutive time since 2011.
“I thought we had good focus and played with urgency,” said PCHS head coach Ryan Herring. “That was a good road win for us after playing two scrimmages and our season opener at home.”
The shutout against Brantley County was the first for PCHS since a 350 win in 2014 and the fifth all-time in the series. Pierce County surpassed the 40-point mark for the ninth time in the last 10 matchups.
“We’re (coaches, players) very disappointed in another lackluster game,” said BCHS head coach David Shorts. “Pierce County is one of the most physical teams we will face, so we are a little banged up.
“All we (coaches) know to do is get back to work and try to figure out how to be creative to move the football with the personnel we have and how to stop the run and defend the deep balls on defense” The Herons managed just 70 yards (76 rushing) of offense while surrendering 416 yards (259 rushing, 157 passing) to Pierce County.
The Bears will host winless Wayne County (0-3), a 38-26 loser to Appling County in its last outing. BCHS travels to face Vidalia in a battle of 0-3 teams. The Indians suffered a 22-18 loss at Tattnall County.
PCHS started fast against the Herons and never really took its foot off the gas pedal. A couple of turnovers, one ending the first half and one to start the third quarter, interrupted scoring opportunities.
The Bears needed just three plays to score the opening touchdown from 39 yards out after forcing a three-and-out on Brantley County’s first offensive series.
Quarterback Drake Dowling’s (12 carries, 132 yards) 23-yard run on second down set up Jay’Veon Williams’ (nine carries, 60 yards) 14-yard touchdown on the ensuing snap. Garrett Stevenson split the uprights on the PAT for a 7-0 lead with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Dylan Johnson’s 19yard punt return after a second straight three-andout by the Herons’ offense set Pierce County up at the BCHS 21. Dowling gained 12 yards on first down before an errant snap lost 13 yards.
The Bears eventually stalled at the Brantley County 16 with Stevenson drilling a 33-yard field goal at the 2:58 mark for a 10-0 advantage.
A quick kick on third down of the Herons’ ensuing possession covering 11 yards spotted the ball at the Brantley County 25.
“During the first half I thought getting them off the field was huge,” Herring said of the three-andouts. “As the game moved along they (BCHS coaches) made some adjustments and gave us different looks creating a few issues.”
Williams scored his second touchdown of the night on the sixth play of the series and third of the second period from a yard out. Stevenson’s PAT pushed the margin to 17-0 with 10:13 left in the half.
Two plays after the kickoff and facing 2ndand- 12 from its own 14, a high snap eluded Brantley County quarterback Kaden Hendrix with Marquez Leggett making the recovery for a touchdown.
Photos by CONNER SELPH Stevenson tacked on the PAT for a 240 advantage with 9:15 showing on the clock.
A fourth punt in the opening half by the Herons set PCHS up at its own 46. Dowling (7-of-10, interception, 136 yards) connected with Chance Williams (two catches, 46 yards) for a 38-yard gain on second down and with Noah Delaney (two catches, 14 yards) one play later for a 14-yard score. Stevenson was once again true with the PAT growing the lead to 31-0 with 6:47 remaining in the half.
The Herons’ next possession was their best of the night. After totaling minus-27 yards on its first five possessions, Brantley County gained 38 yards advancing to the PCHS 28 when Hendrix (15 carries, 54 yards) scampered 21 yards on a fourth down fake punt.
Nigel Brown stepped in front of an errant Hendrix pass (2-of-9, two interceptions; minus-six yards) in the end zone for the first of his two thefts on the night.
Pierce County returned the favor four plays later on its last possession of the half. A 52-yard pass from Dowling to Stevenson moved the ball to the Herons’ 32. After a 12-yard run by Dowling, his next pass was intercepted by Peyton Perez at the Brantley County goal line near the one-minute mark. Perez returned the interception 31 yards.
The Bears would turn the ball over on their first offensive series of the second half. A 19-yard completion from Dowling to Ocean Henderson (two catches, 32 yards) and a 37-yard run by Dowling on the ensuing snap moved the ball to the Brantley County six.
The Herons’ defensive forced a fumble two plays later on a second-and-goal from the BCHS three.
Brantley County punched the ball out from the shadows of the goal line eventually punting the ball away from its own 34. A 48-yard punt by Hendrix backed the Bears up to their own 18.
Johnson gained 61 yards (two carries, 63 yards) on first down. Two plays later following a loss and a penalty, Dowling covered the 29-yard distance to the end zone pulling a Brantley County defender the final three yards. The PAT failed leaving the score at 37-0 with 3:50 remaining in the third period.
Brown’s second pick of the night set up Pierce County’s final touchdown in the “mercy rule” final quarter. The Bears moved 45 yards in eight plays scoring on Johnson’s 13-yard pass to Henderson with 8:50 to play. Stevenson nailed the PAT for a 44-0 advantage.
Mason Kicklighter’s (two carries, 29 yards) 62-yard run on the first snap following the PCHS kickoff was negated by a penalty. The Herons fumbled the ball away two plays later with Pierce County recovering at the BCHS 35.
The Bears reached the Brantley County 10 on a 22-yard run by Jack McClellan on a 4th-and-seven before taking a knee to run out the clock.
