BEARVILLE — Defending Southeast Georgia Middle School Athletic Conference champion Pierce County Middle School began defense of its 2023 title with a season-opening 20-6 victory Wednesday against Wayne County.
The Bears scored two touchdowns in the first half and sealed the August 28 victory with a late fourth quarter score.
Pierce Middle’s Jayme Perez had his opening kick return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty leading to a scoreless standoff in the first eight minutes.
PCMS eventually capitalized on a Yellow Jackets fumble at the end of the first period. Colton McCook’s nine-yard scramble around right end on the second play of the second stanza gave the Bears a lead they would not relinquish. The conversion kick sailed wide right leaving Pierce Middle with a 6-0 lead.
Wayne County’s ensuing kick return for the game-tying score also was wiped out by a penalty. The Yellow Jackets’ offense then stalled with a three-and-out. A fumbled snap in punt formation was recovered by PCMS at the Wayne County 37-yard line.
Three plays into the drive, Mc-Cook connected with tight end Damon Moody for a 28-yard score on the only pass attempt by the Bears just 2:14 before intermission. James Still tacked on the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.
Wayne County closed the deficit to 14-6 with 2:31 left in the third period on a 82-yard gallop by Zamir Jordan (four carries, 88 yards). PCMS stopped the twopoint conversion.
Perez (16 carries, 58 yards) capped the Bears’ scoring by bulldozing his way into the end zone near the two-minute mark for the final points of the game.
Pierce Middle’s defense limited the Yellow Jackets to 102 yards on just 18 snaps. The Bears’ offense controlled the clock, running 32 plays with 31 on the ground. PCMS finished with 156 yards of total offense.
Pierce Middle also won the 6th-7th grade matchup turning back the Yellow Jackets 16-0.
Aidyn Howard’s (five carries, 60 yards) 25-yard touchdown run on PCMS’s first snap gave the Bears a 6-0 lead. Grayson Council punched in the twopoint conversion for an 8-0 lead.
Pierce Middle added a touchdown in the fourth quarter on Gavin Grant’s 16-yard toss to Matthew Herring for the only completion in four attempts. Howard’s ensuing conversion run extended the margin to 16-0.
The Bears’ defense surrendered just 14 yards to Wayne County — all on the ground — on 21 attempts.
PCMS hosts Brantley County Middle School at 5 p.m. today (Wednesday, September 4).
