JESUP — Quarterback Caden McGatha rushed for three short touchdowns and threw for another score leading Class 2A top-ranked Pierce County to a 35-0 domination of winless Class 4A Wayne County here Friday night at Jaycee Field.
“This was a great win,” said head coach Ryan Herring. “Our guys responded well from last week when we didn’t play well. We played a lot better so I’m proud of the effort.
“Was everything perfect? No. But the defense got a zero.”
While PCHS (3-0) was piling up 333 yards of total offense, the Bears’ defense held the home team to just 60 yards (21 rushing yards on 26 attempts, 39 yards passing). The Yellow Jackets’ (0-4) deepest penetration was the Pierce County 40 on their last offensive possession of the night.
“We had a tough week of practice, especially after not playing well up front,” said Herring. “We knew we had to stop the inside run because that’s what killed us against Brantley.
“We got back to playing our style of football. We played good run defense and that’s something that is a key in every game.”
Wayne County’s biggest play came on its third snap of the night having a 56-yard touchdown pass nullified by a holding penalty. The Yellow Jackets, who were credited with a 26-yard gain, only had one other play longer than 10 yards for the night.
McGatha (25 carries, 152 yards — both seasonhighs) scored twice on three-yard runs in the first half and added a twoyard touchdown in the third quarter.
“I never go into a game trying to feature one person,” said Herring. “I let the game dictate what we do offensively. Each week things are different. I want to win so whatever it takes is what we’re going to do.”
After Wayne County had the touchdown wiped out, the Yellow Jackets went backwards punting the ball away facing a 4thand- 30.
PCHS followed with its first score of the night after an opening threeand- out first possession. A 51-yard catch-and-run to a wide open tight end Brandon Williams put the Bears on top 6-0 with 3:07 remaining in the opening quarter. Garrett Stevenson’s PAT sailed right of the upright.
Joe Drew’s fourth interception of the season and 28-yard return three plays after the kickoff set Pierce County up just 22 yards from the end zone.
The Bears needed five plays and a third-down conversion en route to paydirt. A 12-yard completion to Dylan Johnson on third-and-one moved the ball to the Wayne County one. McGatha broke the plane of the goal line two plays later from three yards out with his first score. Stephenson split the uprights extending the lead to 13-0 with :07.4 showing on the clock.
Wayne County’s second possession stalled in PCHS territory at the Bears’ 46. A 32-yard punt pinned Pierce County at its own 14.
The Bears moved 86 yards in 11 plays, overcoming two penalties along the way. PCHS had five plays of 11 yards or longer. McGatha had runs of 12, 11, 14 (on 4th-andone) and 22 and a pass completion of 15 yards to Drew. The Yellow Jackets burned all three of their firsthalf timeouts during the drive.
Linebacker Johnny Stone (13) stops Wayne County’s running back behind the line of scrimmage as three teammates close in for a fourth down stop. Photo By RICK HEAD
McGatha, who ran nine times in the march, capped the 6:26 drive with a three-yard plunge. He then added the two-point conversion after Wayne County was flagged for offsides on the PAT for a 21-0 lead with :59.6 left in the half.
A Chance Williams interception on the Yellow Jackets next play set PCHS up at the Wayne County 46 with 47 seconds on the clock. Four straight McGatha incompletions turned the ball back over to Wayne County to run out the final :22.6 off the clock.
After forcing the Yellow Jackets to punt on its opening drive of the third quarter, Pierce County marched 68 yards in nine plays converting on third down and fourth down.
McGatha (8-of-19, 125 yards) connected with Jones Herring (two catches, 35 yards) for 22 yards on a 3rdand- 7 moving the ball to the Yellow Jackets’ five. Drew converted a fourth-and-goal from the Wayne County six on a jet sweep around left end. Stevenson’s PAT with 5:31 to play upped the margin to 28-0.
Following a three-and-out by the Yellow Jackets, a short punt set PCHS up 30 yards from the end zone. A 24-yard run by McGatha on third-and-six spotted the ball at the Wayne County two. McGatha bulled his way in on the next play swelling the lead to 35-0 after the Stevenson PAT with 2:29 remaining in the third quarter.
The final period was played with a running clock. PCHS had two possessions while the Yellow Jackets had one.
