BEARVILLE — With an opening win over Jackson in defense of its 2023 state AA title, Pierce County becomes road warriors in its quest to reach the championship game in Atlanta over the next rounds.
The opening journey is approxi mately 250 miles to Napoleon B. Cobb Stadium at Avondale where the 10th-seed Bears (10-1) tangle with seventh-seed Region 6 champion Columbia (5-6), winners of five straight including a 46-12 victory over 26th-seed Butler.
The region title was the first for the Eagles since 1981 when they made a run to the Class 3A title game,falling 46-13 to Waycross inside Memorial Stadium.
“You can’t look at their record,” PCHS head coach Ryan Herring said of the Eagles heading into the first-ever meeting between the two schools. “They played the toughest non-region schedule in the state.
When they got to their region, they blow everybody out.”
All six non-region foes are a combined 55-11 and advanced to the second round. Columbia lost at 4A No. 2 Cartersville (11-0, 40-0), at 6A No. 1 Carrollton (11-0, 35-7), at home to 3A No. 9 Douglass-Atlanta (8-3, 4621), at home to Class 2A No. 2 Callaway (9-2, 22-16), at 4A Kell (7-4, 34-6) and at home to 6A No. 4 Douglas County (9-2, 47-14).
The Eagles, who are in the second round for the third time in four years, breezed through a weak region of South Atlanta, Miller Grove, Redan and Salem by a combined score of 182-33 (45.5 to 8.3). They averaged 249 yards rushing and 198 passing (447 total yards) during the region romp. “This will be the fastest team we’ve seen all year,” said Herring. “I do know that. They’ve got good size, are athletic and have speed.
“The big thing for us is we’ve got to be healthy Friday night. Whoever can play is gonna have to play.”
The road to the playoffs has not been kind to PCHS. The Bears have never won a playoff game away from Bears’ Stadium, save two state championships at neutral sites.
Pierce County is 0-13 through the years with 11 losses coming in the state playoffs and two in region setbacks. The Bears last playoff loss came in the 2022 quarterfinals at Fellowship Christian, the only unranked foe in the 13. Brooks County (1993) and Dodge County (2007) are the only two teams outside the top five.
In last week’s victory, Columbia’s Nishan Hillman (5-foot-9, 165 lbs.), a senior, scored three first-half touchdowns. Senior quarterback Cameron Graves (6-foot, 175) threw touchdown passes to junior Jerimiah Combs (5-11, 150) and freshman Damarion Davis (6-foot, 170). Junior Nick Hill (5-9, 170) added a touchdown run.
“Their (Eagles) offense can pound you with the run game and throw it,” said Herring. “They run a gamut of formations and operate behind a big offensive line.
“The quarterback is an extremely dual threat quarterback who can throw it and run it a country mile. He’s a tough kid who will run through tackles and can make all the throws.
“They like to run leads and powers with a hard-running back. They also have some explosive skill players.”
Graves is completing 54 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. He also leads the team in rushing with 790 yards (9.8 per attempt) and seven touchdowns.
Hillman has 487 yards (7.1 per attempt) and five scores while Hill has 408 yards (5.2 per) and five touchdowns.
Combs leads the team in receptions (22) and touchdowns (six) amongst six players with over 100 yards receiving. Sophomore Rashad Silver leads in yards (270) and has four touchdowns.
“We’ve got to do a good job of getting them off the field,” Herring said. “We’ve got to win on third down and limit their (Eagles) big plays both running and passing.”
Pierce County’s defense enters with back-to-back shutouts and four touchdowns allowed over the last six games dropping its season mark to 6.2 points per game.
PCHS is surrendering 68.5 yard rushing (2.5 per attempt) and 55.5 passing with 44% completions for 124 yards per game. Foes have converted 22-of-102 (22%) on third down conversions and 6-of-17 (35%) on fourth down.
Columbia, which has allowed 45 points over the six games and surrenders 24.5 per game for the season, will utilize an even front and put eight in the box.
“Their (Eagles) defensive line is strong and athletic,” said Herring. “They just disrupt offenses and cause headaches. They have good linebacker play and speed on the perimeter.”
The disruption is 59 tackles for loss and 34 quarterback sacks. The secondary has six interceptions.
“We’ve got to be able to sustain drives and keep the ball,” said Herring. “We’ve got to be efficient, get first downs and not turn the ball over.”
PCHS is averaging 331.9 yards a game with 179.5 on the ground and 152.4 through the air. The Bears have converted 34-of-81 (42%) on third down and 9-of-23 (39%) on fourth down.
Junior linebacker Charles Harris (5-9, 190) leads Columbia with 76 tackles. He has seven tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks. Senior linebacker Roynard Tolbert (6-foot, 225) has 71 stops. He has a teamhigh 10 tackles and 14 TFLs.
Senior defensive end Cain Jefferson (6-3, 200) follows with 64 tackles and a team-leading 15 tackles for loss. He has nine sacks. Senior defensive back Durante Speer (6-2, 175) and junior defensive lineman Mikel Edwin (6-foot, 200) are next with 51 tackles. Edwin has 14 TFLs and seven sacks.
Freshman defensive back Jamarion Davis (5-9, 160) leads the team in interceptions with three. Silver is averaging 25 yards on 10 punt returns.
