BEARVILLE — Second-ranked Pierce County returns to the rigors of Region 3-AA play this week hosting Crisp County.
The Bears (7-0 overall, 1-0 region) enter off their lone bye week of the regular season following a 34-13 win in Adel over Cook High.
“Last week went good,” said PCHS head coach Ryan Herring. “It was a great time for a week off for us because we had some linemen with some banged up ankles, and so it came at a perfect time. “We just practiced Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and did condition on Friday, and now our focus is on Crisp County.”
Meanwhile, the Cougars’ (2-6, 1-1) record is misleading. Five of Crisp County’s games, all loses, have been against Top 10 teams in four different classifications. Four defeats were by eight points or less.
“They’ve lost several games by a touchdown or less,” Herring said pointing to the 23-15 season opener against now Class 2A seventh-ranked Sumter County (71); 17-10 to then 10th-ranked Class 3A - A private school Lovett (5-2); 30-7 to then Class A DI fourth-ranked Fitzgerald (4-3); 30-24 to Class 3A second-ranked Peach (7-0); and 21-14 to Class A DI fifth-ranked Swainsboro (7-1).
After a region-opening 35-3 win at home over Tattnall County and a tough 29-27 home loss to Appling County, Crisp County hits the road for the first time in since September 19.
The Cougars have the edge in strength of schedule with their eight opponents producing a 38-21 won-loss record. PCHS’s opponents are a combined 17-35 with only Coosa Christian (6-2) and Cook (5-3) posting winning marks.
“They (Cougars) had a couple of bad snaps early against Appling County and got down 22-0 early,” Herring said. “They ended up coming back (22-20 in third quarter), making it a game and almost winning.
“They have played a tough schedule. They’re hard to beat, but opponents found a way to beat them, and they’ve found ways to lose. But they are a fully capable and able team to come in here and win.”
Friday’s Bearville matchup is the fourth in the series with Pierce County leading 2-1. The first two meetings came in the playoffs with fifth-ranked Crisp County rolling 56-21 at home in the 2016 Class AAA quarterfinals.
Sixth-ranked PCHS prevailed 25-13 at home in the 2020 3A semifinals over the No. 4 Cougars en route to the first state championship. The top-ranked Bears overpowered Crisp County 34-6 last season.
The Cougars’ offensive scheme features the spread with a lot of fourside formations passing and running and an RPO (run/pass option) attack.
“They’re not scared to throw to different places with short, intermediate and deep routes,” said Herring. “They have two really, really good receivers that can take the top off by getting behind you and they can catch tunnel screens that go all the way.
“The quarterback is back from last year. He’s lefty with a good, strong arm and he’s mobile, too. If you watch their (Cougars) games and don’t look at the score you would think they’re winning the game.”
Senior Hamp Simp (6foot-2, 175 lbs.) barks the signals. He has completed 64-of-137 passes (47 percent) for 986 yards with seven touchdowns against nine interceptions. He is the third-leading rusher with 376 yards with six touchdowns and a 100yard night.
A pair of juniors, Zion Mabry (6-1, 225) and Derrell Brown (5-11, 165) rotate in the one-back shotgun attack. Mabry has 609 yards with five touchdowns and five 100-yard rushing games. Brown has 497 yards with a teamhigh seven scores and a 100-yard game.
“We’ve got to stop their power run game,” said Herring of a unit allowing 7.1 points per game with Brooks County’s 16 points the most surrendered. “That’s their number one run. Then you’ve got to be able to stop everything in the pass game. A tunnel screen can go 80 yards. They have one of the better receivers in the state who’s got all kind of offers. He’s explosive.”
Senior Deshaun Fedd (6-foot, 160), one of three receivers with doubledigit receptions, is the leading receiver with 25 catches for 457 (18.3 per reception) and three scores. Fedd has also returned two kicks for scores (94 vs. Peach County and 99 vs. Appling County) and is averaging 60.4 yards on five returns.
Crisp County, which plays both an odd and even front, enters allowing 24 points per game overall and 16 over two region games. The Cougars have allowed 17 points or better in all but one game — Tattnall County.
“They’ve got some space eaters up front,” Herring said. “They’ve got some good linebackers and their defensive backs can all run. I think we’ll see both a 50 and 60 look.”
Senior inside linebacker Jordan Fox (6-foot, 200) is the head-hunter leading the team with 66 tackles. He has eight tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks and a team-high tying three interceptions.
Senior Ian Mitchell-Edge is next with 48 stops. He has recorded four TFLs. Senior inside linebacker Carlin Ervin (6-foot, 230) has recorded 44 tackles and has a team-high 15 tackles for loss. Ervin has a teamhigh nine sacks.
Senior defensive lineman Joshua Goshea (6foot, 210) has 43 tackles to go along with nine TFLs and two quarterback sacks.
“We’ve got to block the line scrimmage,” said Herring. “We’ve got to just be patient, execute and be efficient.”
