2019 Week 6 Bear Tracks

The last time BHP tried to play a home game they were forced to cancel due to lightning strikes. Things were striking this past Friday night, but it wasn’t storms. It was the band striking up the fight song after each BHP touchdown. BHP finished off non-conference play with a 77-21 win over Seneca and a record-breaking 2nd half.

Now the games will start to count toward a region championship and a playoff berth. Plus, this first region match-up against Walhalla should mean just a little more to the Bears this time around than it has in the past.

Week 6 Preview

And here is where BHP’s road to defending their Region Championship begins. BHP takes on the undefeated Walhalla Razorbacks and BHP will be looking to avenge their only region loss from last season.

BHP has a long history playing Walhalla and BHP has been on the winning side for nearly all of the games played. BHP is 22-5 all-time against Walhalla and last season was the first time Walhalla beat BHP since 1982. Also, last season was the first time Walhalla had scored more than 30 points against BHP ever and only the 5th time they scored 20 or more points against BHP.

Those Walhalla teams have no resemblance to this new iteration of the Razorbacks. As we said, Walhalla is 5-0 this season with wins coming over Wildwood (FL), West-Oak, Landrum, Powdersville, and Carolina Academy. Along with the wins, Walhalla is putting up huge offensive numbers. This season Walhalla has the 2nd most points scored of any 4-AAAA team in SC (only behind Wren).

That type of Walhalla team is the one that showed up and beat BHP last season. Walhalla beat BHP 33-22 in the opening game of region play last season. The 22 points scored by BHP was the 2nd least in the regular season last year and the 33 points scored by Walhalla was the 2nd most scored on BHP last season. BHP also threw 3 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for TDs, which became the true difference in the game.

2018 Game Stats

Score: BHP 22 -- Walhalla 33

BHP Yardage:

Team Rushing: 36 rushes for 177 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 15/26/3 for 145 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 62 plays for 322 yards and 3 TDs

Rushing Leader: RJ Ellis - 17 rushes for 117 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: Camden Bratcher - 15/26/3 for 145 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leaders: Xavier Nance - 5 receptions for 54 yards
Defensive Points: Jalen Geer - 2 assisted tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 hurries, 1 sack and 28 defensive points

Walhalla Team Yardage:

Team Rushing: 38 rushes for 110 yards
Team Passing: 12/21/0 for 165 yards and 2 TDs
Team Total: 59 for 275 and 2 TDs

Rushing Leader: Zaire Scotland - 11 rushes for 64 yards
Passing Leader: Corey Loggins - 12/20/0 for 165 yards and 2 TDs
Receiving Leader: Patrick Nations - 6 receptions for 63 yards and a TD

Quick Stats

• The 56 points scored in the 2nd half last Friday night against Seneca was the most points BHP has ever scored in a half surpassing 1994 vs Hanna -1st half.
• The 35 points scored in the 4th quarter against Seneca tied the BHP record for most points in a quarter with the 2013 vs Palmetto - 3rd quarter.
• RJ Ellis has rushed for over 100 yards in 9 of the 10 last BHP games (the only one he hasn’t was versus Westwood in the first round of the 2018 playoffs).
• BHP’s RJ Ellis needs 67 rushing yards to become BHP’s 2nd all-time rusher.
• Ellis also broke into the top 10 all-time all-purpose yardage for a career at BHP with 3,295 yards.
• Coach Blackston is 2 wins away from being the winningest coach in BHP history.
• The 10 rushing TDs scored against Seneca was the most scored in a single game since 2014, the next closest was 6.
• BHP rushed for 10 rushing TDs against Seneca, which is 2 more than BHP has given up all season.
• BHP is averaging 52% more points per game over last season.
• BHP has incurred 50.7% more penalties per game over last season.
• BHP is averaging 70% more rushing yards per game over last season.
• The 288 rushing yards by Seneca’s Shawntravis Holden was the most given up by BHP since before 2014.
• Seneca became only the 3rd team to rush for more than 200 yards in two separate games against BHP since 2014.
• BHP is causing 37.5% more negative yardage plays per game over last season.
• Last season BHP only caused 7 interceptions, they already have 8 this year.
• The match-up against Seneca was the first time this season BHP did not have a turnover in a game.
• In games since 2014 where BHP has not had a turnover, BHP is 16-1.
• BHP gained 621 total yards against Seneca which was the most total yards in a game since 2014.
• BHP has gained 500 or more total yards in 8 games since 2014 and are 7-1 in those games.
• BHP has outscored opponents 133 to 46 in the 2nd halves of games this season.
• BHP is averaging 8.43 yards per play on 1st downs this season.
• BHP’s opponents have not thrown a passing TD in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd quarters this season.
• 76.8% of BHP’s total yardage has come on plays that gain 10 or more yards.
• BHP has rushed 74% of plays this season.
• BHP is averaging over 45 points per game while only allowing 20 points per game this season.

Conclusion

Now the games mean something and we can finally get to see how much desire this Bear team has. Many were on the team last season when they lost to Walhalla. Hopefully, they all remember that defeat.

Just like last season, one loss does not preclude you from the region title but it sure does make it harder. BHP has to start the game with more urgency. BHP has been outscored 27-21 in the first quarters this season. Playing from behind against good teams is a recipe for disaster. Plus, playing with the lead lets us see the stable of running backs only BHP can showcase.

Prediction: BHP 38 - Walhalla 28

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