2019 Round 2 Bear Tracks

The weather turned colder, but BHP burned up the field with their rushing attack against York last Friday night. BHP opened the playoffs against York, a team they had never played before, but the outcome was as textbook as a BHP win could be. BHP leaned on the rushing attack and got huge contributions from the defense. With that win, BHP advances to take on Greenville in Round 2.

Round 2 Preview

The further BHP advances in the playoffs, the harder the opponents get, but depending on certain outcomes the more familiar they could become as well. In this second-round matchup, BHP will head to Greenville. Greenville enters the playoffs as the top overall seed in the Upper State bracket and won the Region 2 title. Along with that they had a 9-2 record with their only losses coming to Woodmont and South Pointe.

BHP and Greenville have already played this season in week two’s matchup. Greenville came out the victor in that game, which will hopefully give the Bears even more of an edge as they play this Friday night.

These two teams have accounted for some of the most exciting games in BHP history. You can read more about them in our Week 2 Bear Track Post. Combine that exciting history with the ramifications of this game this Friday night and hopefully we’ll get a game for the ages.

BHP will have to rely on their ground attack as they did in the first matchup. But the number one priority this Friday night is to win the turnover battle. In their last matchup BHP turned the ball over 4 times to Greenville’s 0, and Greenville scored on each drive after the turnover. If the Bears can play a clean game and if each team brings their “A” game, I like the Bears’ chances.

2019 Week 2 Game Stats

Score: BHP 14 -- Greenville 31

BHP Yardage:

Team Rushing: 49 rushes for 290 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 6/10/2 for 55 yards
Team Total: 59 plays for 345 total yards and 2 TDs

Rushing Leader: RJ Ellis - 22 rushes for 171 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: Logan Milford - 6/10/2 for 55 yards
Receiving Leader: RJ Ellis - 2 receptions for 17 yards
Defensive Points: Joseph Sloan - 7 solo tackles, 4 assisted tackles, and 29 defensive points

Greenville Team Yardage:

Team Rushing: 37 rushes for 246 yards and 3 TDs
Team Passing: 7/14/0 for 131 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 51 plays for 377 yards and 4 TDs

Rushing Leader: Khalique Holland - 11 rushes for 138 yards
Passing Leader: Prometheus Franklin - 7/14/0 for 131 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leader: Khalique Holland - 2 receptions for 39 yards

Quick Stats

2019 Season

• BHP has caused 16 interceptions, up from 7 last season (up 129%).
• BHP only has 9 defensive sacks, down from 24 last season (down 63%).
• BHP has 65 tackles for loss this season, up from 49 last season (up 33%).
• BHP has blocked 6 kicks this season. They only blocked 1 in 2018.
• In BHP’s wins this season they have a turnover differential of +15 (7 turnovers to 22 takeaways).
• In BHP’s losses this season they have a turnover differential of -8 (9 turnovers to 1 takeaway).
• In all three of BHP’s losses this season, the Bears had fewer penalty yards than their opponents.
• After 10 games BHP’s Pythagorean Expected Wins is 7.91 (based on points and points allowed, BHP should have expected to be 8-2).
• For the last 3 games, BHP has a completion percentage of 38.3%.
• BHP has thrown 11 passing TDs and 10 interceptions.
• BHP’s completion percentage for the season is down 18% from last season.
• BHP is rushing for 59% more yards on 18.5% more rushes and scoring 154.7% more rushing TDs than last year.
• BHP is allowing 17.8% less rushing yards and causing 10% more negative rushing plays than they did last season.
• Week 2 against Greenville was the only game this season where BHP was held under 28 points and 350 total yards.
• This season BHP has 4 rushers that are averaging 5 or more yards per carry with 10 or more carries.
• BHP’s Anthony Bertoni has made 54 of his 55 PAT attempts (98.18% and is one make away from the most made PATs in a season).

Round 1 vs York

• The 58 total defensive points for Joseph Sloan is the most defensive points accounted for in the last two years.
• BHP’s Joseph Sloan was 1 solo tackle away from tying the BHP all-time solo tackles in a game record at 11.
• BHP’s Sion Barnette tied the BHP all-time record of tackle for loss in a game with 4 against York.
• BHP scored 2 defensive TDs against York. Last season BHP only had 2 total.
• Against York, BHP was penalized 10 times which was the 6th time this season they were penalized 10 or more times in a game.
• The 3 rushing TDs against York was the 8th time this season that BHP has rushed for 3 or more TDs.
• With 203 rushing yards against York, RJ Ellis is in sole possession of the most 200+ rushing yard games at BHP for a career with 8.

Miscellaneous

• Since 2014 BHP is 25-3 with they rush for 250 or more yards. (The only losses came to Greenville 2019, Daniel 2014, and Wren 2014)
• BHP is 16-3 all-time in playoff games where they score 28 or more points.
• This upcoming game against Greenville will be BHP’s 600th football game. BHP has an overall record of 370-225-4.
• BHP has an all-time playoff record of 25-26.
• BHP is 6-11 in 2nd round playoff games all-time.
• BHP has only played Greenville in the playoffs once in 2011 and BHP lost 34-15.
• BHP’s overall record against Greenville is 4-5.
• RJ Ellis is 50 rushing yards away from having 4,000 career rushing yards.
• BHP’s Logan Milford now has the 10th most passing yards in a career at BHP.
• BHP’s RJ Ellis is 2 receptions away from tying for 10th all-time receptions at BHP (currently has 37).
• RJ Ellis needs one more 200-yard rushing game to tie the most 200-yard rushing games in a season at BHP (he currently has 4).

Conclusion

It is the name of the game when you make it to the playoffs, the longer you play the better you have to play, and BHP has to play better if they want to advance. This team has an identity and they have to lean into it more-and-more. They have to rush the ball effectively and be opportunistic on defense to both cause turnovers and make tackles in the backfield. If BHP can play that type of game the Bears will be hard to beat in any round.

Even as the weather turns colder, we do not see these Bears hibernating just yet.

Prediction: BHP 28 - Greenville 24

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Extra Point

1. Last Friday night BHP ran plays out of what most people know as the Wildcat formation. From here on out when BHP uses this formation, can we call it the Bear Down formation?
2. As the playoffs shape up, let’s call BHP’s run the “Revenge Tour” because most likely BHP will have to beat all three teams that beat them this season if BHP keeps winning.