As the season has finally ended, change is soon to take place for the Pierce County Bears. Pierce County ended 2nd in the region with a 9-4 record, and made it to the Elite 8 in the AAA division. The Bears were led by a whopping 16 seniors this season, and a large portion of the seniors played on the offense. The Bears had the high flying offense that led the region in points (539), passing yards (3,782), and offensive yards (6,221).
The Bears offense will still be expected to produce numbers next season, even if most of the starters will be graduating this year. “It happens; they have to graduate eventually,” Coach Sean Pender said when asked about the large loss of starters. “Because of this we will have to make our schemes less complicated and more basic.” With all of the changes that will soon take place to the offense the 2017 season might include a new approach or even a new system. The Bears will also have to prepare for a new quarterback under center for the first time in 3 years, as star quarterback Stetson Bennett IV will be playing at the next level.
With this said, most of the starters on defense will be returning on this season. This is good news for a Bears team that will have to recover from the many changes occurring to the team’s offense. “We have to get stronger, and develop our younger talent” Coach Pender said when he was asked what the goal were going to be this offseason. “We want to start reloading instead of rebuilding.”
Pierce County once again reached the quarterfinals, for the first since 2014. This is exciting for a county so devoted to their high school football. Pierce County was very ecstatic when they found out they were going to make it into the playoffs. Including the Bears’ football team. “I was pleased of how we made it to the Elite 8 this season,” Coach Pender said when asked what he was proud of about his season. “This was one of the few times Pierce County has ever made it this far into the playoffs.”
The Bears’ football team started the season at home with an impressive win over Bacon County, and continued their success throughout the season with hard fought wins over several opponents within the division. Although the Bears came up short in the playoffs, the season had many rewards and records coming from the players as a team and all the personal goals that were accomplished throughout the season, including t 10 first team all-region honors, 8 second team all-region honors, and Stetson Bennett’s co-offensive player of the year award.
But with this year in the books, Pierce County will have to start looking into next season with the kickoff to the season will be here before we know it. The Bears will be returning next August to again represent Pierce County, as they plan to produce another impressive season.
Pierce High School
BEARS FOOTBALL
ENDS IN ROUND 3 OF PLAYOFFS
By Jaron Raulerson
