2020 Week 2 Bear Tracks

**This was posted before the news of the game cancellation was announced. We still want this online to give an idea of what we were looking forward to. **

BHP finally got to take the field for the first game of the 2020 season. BHP opened the season with a 29 - 7 region win over Pendleton and started the season on the right track. However, the game showed both the impressive upside and the issues the Bears still have as a team.

BHP now turns to take on one of the most storied high school football programs in the state, the Greer Yellow Jackets.

Last Week vs Pendleton

BHP started off the game against Pendleton in a very impressive fashion. BHP scored 29 points in the first half. Of the 29 points, BHP scored 21 points in the 2nd quarter which was the 32nd time BHP has done so since 2014. In a pre-season interview, Coach Blackston was quoted saying, “I've told our kids that this is going to be a weird year, so let's be great in a weird year!” And in a subtle way, he created a “weird” score by scoring a two point conversion on the opening score of the season. Plus, the two point conversion converted by BHP was only the 7th successful conversion by BHP since 2014. BHP’s defense was very dominant as well. BHP held Pendleton to less than 100 yards passing on 27 attempts. This was the most attempts by a BHP opponent while allowing less than 100 passing yards since 2014

As well as the first half went for the Bears, the second half was nearly the complete opposite. BHP was held scoreless in the second half, which was only the 9th time that has happened since 2014. Along with that, BHP had no receptions in the second half which was only the 7th time that BHP has not had a reception in a full half of football since 2014. Also, BHP threw two interceptions and had zero passing TDs against Pendleton. This was the 8th time that has happened since 2014. However, this was the first time BHP has won while throwing two interceptions and having zero passing TDs in a half since 2014.

BHP also showed an inability to limit penalties. BHP was penalized 15 times for 143 yards which were the 5th most penalty yards against BHP in a game since 2014. This was also the 18th game that BHP was penalized over 100 yards (in that same time, BHP’s opponents have only had eight 100 penalty yards games).

One thing that has been noticeable is the good special teams play for BHP. In a shortened season, some teams may neglect this part of football, but if BHP continues to focus on this it could be a way to manufacture points against tougher opponents. It is a small aspect to keep our eyes on as the season progresses.

We hope BHP will be able to capitalize on the play of the first half while fixing the issues that arose in the second half.

Week 2 vs Greer

BHP now looks to take on a non-region opponent in the Greer Yellow Jackets. This will be the 11th match-up between BHP and Greer with BHP leading the all-time record 6-4. However, this will be the first regular season matchup between these teams since 1971. The last time BHP faced Greer was in the 2nd round of the 2014 playoffs. BHP won 55-21

The two teams and staff are far different from the last time these teams met. BHP comes into this matchup 1-0 while Greer comes off a 34-17 loss to Greenville in Week 1.

One thing to look for is the matchup between BHP’s top defensive player Jatius Geer and Greer’s top offensive lineman Jaydon Collins. Geer is a Syracuse commit and Collins is a Wake Forest commit. We’ll get to see this D1 prospect battle every play and this one-on-one matchup will go a long way to putting one over the edge for the win.

Conclusion

BHP will now be looking to play a full game in the vein of the first half from the Pendleton game. BHP will have to play much better than they did last Friday to get the win over one of the most storied football programs in SC high school football.

It will be interesting to see how BHP develops from Week 1 to Week 2. We are excited to see the improvements and want to see a great game against Greer.

Prediction: BHP 28 - Greer 21

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