Summary of last season:
The Bears made it to the state quarterfinals in 2016 behind the passing of Stetson Bennett, who is now a freshman walk-on at the University of Georgia. Starting out at 2-2, falling to Richmond Hill and AA power Brooks County, Pierce County went on a five game winning streak before falling to Liberty County in the game to decide the Region 2-AAA Championship. They ended the season at 7-3 and the number two seed in Region 2-AAA. The Bears posted two home wins in the playoffs but fell on the road to Crisp County.
The New Coach:
Coach Sean Pender exited and is now at Brunswick High School. After a search, Pierce County hired Jason Strickland from Fitzgerald to take over the football program. Coach Strickland has a record of 81-32-1 over nine years as a head coach. He spent four seasons at Lamar County and then five seasons at Fitzgerald. Coach Strickland led the Purple Hurricane to the state title game in each of the last two seasons. Prior to becoming head coach at Lamar County, he was an assistant at Westside Macon and for Coach Rich McWhorter at Charlton County.
Outlook for this season?
“With the graduation of Stetson Bennett and a new offense, the Bears will have a new identity,” Coach Strickland said. “There are many questions that need to be answered. (We) must be able to quickly evaluate the personnel and be able to place them in the right spot. Since my arrival the growth and attitude of the players have been exceptional, but there are many giant steps that need to be taken to continue to build on the success of the last couple of years.”
It will be a learning year for Pierce County as they learn new formations and plays for a new coach and they will have to learn to play without last season’s stars. The Bears will face four teams with new head coaches this year.
Big games this year:
The Bears will open against Bacon County in Alma before returning home to face Beach. That’s followed by a visit to Richmond Hill then a three game home stand, then road trips to Long and Tattnall. The season ends in what could be a region-championship showdown in Hinesville against last year’s champion, the Liberty County Panthers.
SE-SF-0817-Pierce
Strickland is the New Papa Bear
