BEARVILLE — Pierce County’s gridiron senior classes have been some of the best across the state since 2020 invading in “blue blood” territory.
The Bears’ Class of 2026 was the sixth consecutive to top the 40-win plateau finishing 46-7 ranking inside the top 15 programs across the state and one of only 39 to win at least 40 games the last four years.
Perhaps many never dreamed the PCHS program could attain such status. Twenty-four of the first 28 four-year graduating classes finished below .500 with three classes (1992, 1999, 2000) not winning 10 games.
Starting with the Class of 2013’s 22-21 mark, the last 14 graduating classes have finished with at least 30 victories.
Pierce County’s current streak of 42-plus wins is tied for eighth-longest in the state trailing Class 6A Buford’s record streak of 25 consecutive graduating classes of 42-plus wins to go along with 27 consecutive years of 10 wins or more.
Class A Private School Prince Avenue and Class 4A’s Cartersville and Benedictine have posted 12 straight graduating classes surpassing the 40win plateau. Class 6A Grayson has 11 consecutive classes.
Class 4A Marist and Class 5A Carrollton are sixth and seventh at eight years and seven years respectively. Class 6A’s Milton and Colquitt County are tied with PCHS at six apiece.
Beginning in 2020, Pierce County’s graduating classes have averaged 46.5 wins and 7.2 losses ranking fifth over the six-year period. Buford leads the way with 49.2 wins against 5.2 losses.
The Wolves are followed by Prince Avenue (48.3 to 7.0), Cartersville (47.8 to 5.2), Carrollton (46.7 to 6.7) and PCHS.
Trailing the Bears are Marist (46.2 to 7.0), Grayson (45.3 to 9.0) and Milton (45.3 to 9.5), Benedictine (43.5 to 10.3) and Colquitt County (41.2 to 8.2).
The Bears’ Class of 2021 set the standard posting a 42-9 mark to become the first to 40 wins and capture a state title (2020 AAA crown).
PCHS has followed with records of 48-6 (2021), 467 (2022), school-record 49-7 (2023 - AA state title), 48-7 (2024) and 46-7 (2025). The Class of
Top 10 programs since 2020 Cumulative Avg.
1. Buford ..................296-31....................49.2- 5.2 2. Prince Ave............290-42 ...................48.3- 7.0 3. Cartersville ...........287-31....................47.8- 5.2 4. Carrollton.............281-40....................46.7- 6.7
5. Pierce County .279-43...............46.5- 7.2
6. Marist ...................277-43 ...................46.2- 7.0 7. Grayson ................272-54 ...................45.3- 9.0 7. Milton ...................272-57....................45.3- 9.5 9. Benedictine ..........262-62...................43.5-10.3 10. Colquitt County ..247-49....................41.2- 8.2 2023 is the only one to be part of two state championships.
Pierce County’s 2027 senior class is currently 35-5 heading into the
2026 season.
The Bears’ current five-year streak of 46-plus wins is only topped by Class 6A’s Buford and Grayson, and Class 4A Cartersville.
During Pierce County’s 15-year run of excellence, the Bears’ program is 116 games above .500 posting a 153-37 (.805) mark with 41 playoff games. Over the first 30 years, PCHS was 67 games below
.500 going 124-191 (.394) with 11 post-season games.
PCHS 4-year graduating classes football records 1984 .......................................28-17
1985.......................................24-20
1986 .......................................18-23
1987 .......................................14-26
1988 .......................................17-23
1989 .......................................15-25
1990 .......................................13-28
1991 ........................................11-30
1992.........................................9-32 1993 .......................................12-30
1994 .......................................17-28
1995 .......................................23-22
1996.......................................23-22
1997 .......................................18-26
1998 .......................................13-29
1999 .........................................7-33
2000........................................8-32
2001 .......................................11-29
2002 ......................................18-25
2003.......................................18-25
2004.......................................16-27
2005.......................................14-29
2006.......................................11-29
2007.......................................16-25
2008 ......................................19-22
2009 ......................................20-21
2010 .......................................16-25
2011........................................16-25
2012 .......................................22-21
2013 .......................................30-15
2014.......................................38-10
2015 ........................................37-11
2016 .......................................36-13
2017 ........................................31-17
2018 .......................................34-15
2019 .......................................38-12
2020 .......................................42- 9
2021........................................48- 6
2022........................................46- 7
2023........................................49- 7
2024 .......................................48- 7
2025........................................46- 7 # Class of 2026 enters senior season with 35-5 record.
Class of 2026 45-plus wins 1. 53-4 - Carrollton #
2. 52-3 - North Oconee
2. 52-3 - Thomas Co. Central #
2. 52-7 - Bowdon #
5. 50-4 - Cartersville
6. 49-6 - Hughes
7. 48-8 - Marist
7. 48-5 - Buford #
9. 47-8 - Grayson
9. 47-8 - Carver-Columbus #
9. 47-8 - Creekside # 12. 46-7 - Pierce Co.
12. 46-9 - Prince Avenue
12. 46-10 - Milton
12. 46-5 - Calvary Day # 16. 45-7 - Clinch Co.
16. 45-9 - Jefferson #
18. 44-8 - Roswell
18. 44-11 - Rockmart
18. 44-8 - Gainesville #
18. 44-8 - Sandy Creek #
18. 44-10 - Benedictine # # - Still alive in playoffs
