BEARVILLE — Pierce County faces a daunting task in the second round of the Class AA playoffs when the 16th-seed Bears travel to unbeaten top-seed Carver-Atlanta.
The Bears (9-2) are in the Round of 16 for the 10th consecutive season after beating 17thseed Ringgold (6-5) 45-14 in the first round. They need a win Friday to continue their streak of 10+-win seasons, which currently stands at seven.
PCHS is playing for the 14th time in the second round since 2002 going 9-4. The Bears’ trip to Atlanta is just the third and comes on the heels of last year’s 31-24 victory at Columbia — the first road win in school history.
Pierce County’s prior two road trips ended with a 49-21 loss in LaGrange to Callaway in 2013 and 34-14 at Peach County in 2017.
Carver-Atlanta (11-0), ranked second in the last regular season poll, is the top seed in the AA poll. The Panthers, who won their third region title under 21st-year head coach Darren Myles, have reached the playoffs for the 17th time under his watch and 14th straight.
Carver-Atlanta advanced for the seventh time to the “Sweet 16” with a 69-6 trouncing of overmatched 32nd-seed Butler. The 69 points surpassed the 68 scored September 5 against Mundy’s Mill (68-0).
The Panthers are 5-1 in second round matchups (6-0 after last year’s 35-14 loss to Appling County was later reversed).
Friday’s meeting at Lakewood Stadium will be the third post-season confrontation between the two schools. PCHS (ranked 6th) beat the visiting Panthers 51-18 in the 2020 quarterfinals. Carver-Atlanta (No 8) followed in 2021 with a 19-17 semifinal road win over the thirdranked Bears getting a fourth down stop near the goal line in the final seconds.
“Their bodies look impressive and their play looks impressive,” PCHS head coach Ryan Herring said. “It’s going to be a big challenge. This is the best team we’ve seen this year.
“They will try to go over the top in the passing game with verticals. They’ll also throw the short routes as well.”
The Panthers will pit an offense averaging 390.3 yards per game (229.7 rush, 160.6 pass) and 39.2 points against a PCHS defense allowing 208.2 yards (127 rush, 81.2 pass) surrendering 11.8 points a game.
“They (Panthers) like to spread it out,” said Herring. “Even when they spread out, they want to run outside and inside zone. Their back is the best running back we’ve seen this year.”
Sophomore quarterback Corey Fletcher (6foot-1, 160 lbs.) directs the offense. He has completed 77-of-119 passes (65 percent) for 1,439 yards with 13 touchdowns and one interception. He has only 17 yards rushing with three scores on 10 attempts. The ground game is paced by senior Lataious Stepp (5-9, 190), who has gained 1,062 yards on 134 carries (7.9 per attempt). Stepp has scored 10 touchdowns and recorded six 100-yard rushing nights. “The running back runs hard,” Herring said. “The offensive line does a good job on zone blocking, and they do a good job with combo blocks. He’s a bigger version of Jae’Veon (Williams).
“He’ll take it wide or he’ll bend it back on the inside zone. He can pound it inside for three or four yards or he can take it 80.”
Senior Terrious Favors (5-11, 160), who plays receiver, has 765 yards on 34 carries (22.5 yards) on jet sweeps and reverses. He’s scored six touchdowns and has two 100-yard outings.
Favors is the leading receiver with 42 catches for 888 yards (21.1 per reception) with 11 touchdowns. The next closest in receptions is senior Gavin Hill (6-5, 175) with 13 receptions for 199 yards and three scores.
“Their (Panthers) receiver (Favors) is a DI prospect who committed to Boise State early,” said Herring. “I think he’s looking at some other schools who have made offers later in the season. He’s dangerous as a receiver, in the run game and on special teams.”
Four of senior Michael Baugh’s 10 grabs have resulted in touchdowns. He averages 25.6 yards per catch.
“The running back scares more than anything,” said Herring. “You’ve also got to know where No. 3 (Favors) is because he’s a major threat. They (Panthers) want to kill you running the ball, but they have that second option.”
Carver-Atlanta’s seniorladen defensive unit, which aligns in a 4-2, plays behind the line of scrimmage. The Panthers have recorded 112 tackles for loss, have recorded 40 sacks and forced 21 turnovers (10 interceptions, 11 fumble recoveries).
“They just light up and try to murder you,” Herring said. “The defensive ends are really, really big and athletic, like, really, really physical. The defensive ends are both 6-(foot) to 6-2 and about 240 pounds. They play physical and strike you.”
In the trenches, senior defensive end Michael Johnson (6-1, 230) has a team-high 32 TFLs to go along with a team-leading seven sacks. Classmate and fellow defensive end Tyree Williams has 12 tackles for loss and is second with three sacks.
Junior defensive tackles Donald Tennyson (6-foot, 225) and Michael Springer (5-10, 215) have combined for 12 TFLs and two sacks.
Senior inside linebacker Javonte Holt (5-8, 190) has a team-high 80 tackles to go along with 14 TFLs and a sack. Fellow classmate and inside linebacker Quinton Moss (5-9, 185) is second with 72 stops and 12 TFLs.
Lining up at the outside backers are Lamonte Tucker (5-10, 170) and Favors. Tucker has 47 tackles and three TFLs. Favors has been in on 24 tackles with four TFLs and has a team-high five interceptions.
“We’ve got to be able to execute and stay on schedule,” said Herring. “We can’t turn the ball over like we did against Ringgold. We’ve got to play really smooth and really clean.”
Favors is also dangerous in the return game. Favors returned three punts for touchdowns in the lopsided first round win. He also scored on a 90-plus yard jet sweep and caught a touchdown pass. Favors has an 80-yard kick return for a score this season.
The PCHS-Carver winner will meet the winner of ninth-seed Sumter County and eighthseed North Murray in the “Elite 8” December 5. Pierce County 9-2, Region 3-AA No. 16 seed Coosa Christ .............20- 7 @ Brantley Co. .........44- 0 Wayne Co. ................42- 0 @N. Hampstead ......39-14 Brooks Co. ...............28-16 Vidalia .......................21- 0 @*Cook ...................34-13 *Crisp Co. ................16-28 @*Tattnall Co............42- 7 *Appling Co..............14-31 First Round Playoffs Ringgold...................45-14 *-Region 3-AA Carver-Atlanta 11-0, Region 4-AA No. 1 seed @SW DeKalb..............12- 7 @Luella.......................35- 0 @Decatur...................37-14 @Mundy’s Mille...........68- 0 @*Washington ............44- 0 *Hapeville Charter.......14- 7 @*KIPP Collegiate.....35-14 *Holy Innocents..........26-22 @*Therrell...................51- 0 *Lovett........................40-12 First Round Playoffs
Butler...........................69- 6
