2020 Year End Bear Tracks

A statement about how strange and awful the 2020 year has been is like using the cliche’ of beating a dead horse, but after how the Bears defeated the Mustangs (Palmetto), it just seems fitting. The year that some thought would never be did indeed take place, but in a way that was odd from the start. South Carolina as a whole started nearly a month later than scheduled and incorporated a condensed 7 game schedule. Although we got football back on the schedule, the season did not go as planned.

Season Review


As the summer drew on there came a time where it looked like there may have not been a football season altogether. However, after a delayed start the state of South Carolina allowed football to begin and we were excited to see the Bears in action.

BHP opened the season against Pendleton. After offseason realignment, this was now a region matchup. This was the first season BHP opened with a region opponent since 1969. BHP showed both the reason we were excited about this team and the reasons that would ultimately cause concern about this team. BHP was able to jump out to a 29-0 halftime lead but was unable to add to the lead. However, the 29 points scored in the first half were more than enough to get the victory over Pendleton. Final score, BHP 29 - Pendleton 7.

Following the Week 1 victory, BHP moved their focus to the upcoming matchup against Greer. However, during the week an outbreak of positive Covid cases hit the team and that game was canceled and the following week's matchup against Seneca was postponed to later in the year. The team was unable to practice and was limited to online team meetings.

The long layover was exacerbated by having to play a region matchup after coming out of quarantine; not to mention against the reigning 4A State Champions. The game was postponed to the following Saturday morning to allow the full 14 day quarantine period. Unfortunately, the time off was a huge hurdle for the team and the lack of practice time showed early. The first three offensive plays went for negative yardage and BHP fumbled on two of them (they recovered both). With that, Wren exploded to a 21-0 1st quarter lead over BHP. BHP fought back but went into halftime down 34-13. However, that differential is quite misleading. With 2 minutes left in the 1st half, BHP had a 1st and Goal opportunity but failed to score. After halftime, BHP scored on their first drive cutting the deficit to 34-20 (if BHP could have scored before halftime the margin would only be 34-27). But, that was the last points BHP scored and Wren added 19 more. Final score, BHP 20 - Wren 53.

Coming off the loss to Wren, BHP traveled to Daniel, the reigning region champion. Unlike against Wren where if a few breaks went BHP’s way the outcome could have been different, there was never that feeling against Daniel. The Lions showed why some (including yours truly) think they are the best AAA team in the state. Daniel took a 35-0 lead into halftime and never looked back. BHP did not score their first point until the first play of the 4th quarter. And with the win over the Bears, Daniel secured their second consecutive region championship and ended any playoff hopes for the Bears. Final score, BHP 14 - Daniel 52

The next game on the schedule was a road game against Abbeville, but one of the games that were scheduled to be played during the two-week quarantine was a region matchup against Seneca. That game was then rescheduled in place of the matchup against Abbeville. Along with the initial rescheduling, the actual game was then postponed to Monday of the following week. Coming into the game, Seneca was winless and both BHP and Seneca had been eliminated from playoff contention. Even with that, BHP was able to sprint out to a 17-7 halftime lead. However, Seneca then scored 21 unanswered second-half points. This defeat was just a cataclysm of the 2020 season, a true disappointment. Final score, BHP 17 - Seneca 28

After the Seneca loss, BHP had one more scheduled matchup and that was against Palmetto. So many factors were pointing to another disappointing loss and a loss to a rival who very very rarely wins against BHP. A couple of those factors were a shorter week (the Seneca game was played on Monday and BHP would only have 3 practice days), BHP had no postseason opportunity, and the feeling of a truly thrown away year. Coupled with Palmetto having one of their best seasons ever and winning their region, they had the belief that they would be able to beat the Bears. But like nearly every other BHP team, those factors did not have any effect on the outcome. BHP showed the most excitement and enthusiasm both on the field and on the sideline that they had all year. That carried over in the play. BHP exploded to a 31-10 halftime lead and just kept pouring it on after that. In the end, BHP once again put little brother Palmetto in their place. Final score, BHP 52 - Palmetto 18.

Because of the shortened season and reduced number of teams making it to the playoffs, the SC High School League allowed teams that would not be participating in the postseason to schedule an additional game at the end of the season. BHP was able to schedule Emerald for their sixth and final game of the season. As the Vikings from Emerald traveled to BHP, the Bears met them with the same excitement they had against Palmetto. With nothing but pride on the line, BHP played one of their most complete games of the season. The defensive performance was the best of the season. BHP scored 19 points before Emerald got on the scoreboard with 9 minutes left in the game. Final score, BHP 26 - Emerald 6

Altogether, no this season was not the outcome we all wanted. But we do want to point out how impressive the last two wins were. The mind and attitude of a teenager would have easily given up and not put in the effort we saw. The coaching job to keep the players engaged and competing is so impressive and is the number one take-away from this disappointing year.

Team Leaders


BHP’s offense and the team as a whole rested on the shoulders of their senior wide receiver turned quarterback, Tyler Fields. Even though the offense was not as prolific as in the past, Fields was a highlight. He led the team in rushes, rushing yards, and in every passing category we gathered. He is the first player who led the team in pass attempts and rushing attempts since we started gathering play-by-play data (2014). Dusty Hester was the only rusher with more rushing TDs (6) than Fields.

The offense was geared around Fields and a duo of backs (Jauron Pruitt and Dusty Hester). However, BHP was able to make some big plays in the air. BHP ran 243 rushing plays compared to 69 passing. With that, Fields completed 49% of his passes, while throwing 4 TDs, or one TD every 7.5 completions. Eli Strickland led the team in receptions while Nevada Billups led the team in receiving yards.

On the other side of the ball, BHP’s defense started to improve as the season began to wind down. The front seven of the defense was led by the two ends, Jatius Geer and Jamias Gleen. These two accounted for 12 of the 29 tackles for loss and were the first and third defensive points leaders (Geer 135 defensive points, Gleen 109 defensive points). Geer also led the team in sacks, hurries, TFLs, and caused fumbles. Gleen led the team in first hits, second in assisted tackles, and had one of the three blocked kicks.

The back end of the defense was led by a trio of players. This trio was led by AJ Pendleton. Pendleton was the second leading defensive points gainer, led the team in solo tackles, and was tied with the most pass breakups and interceptions. The second part of the defensive back end trio was Wes Newton. Along with Pendleton, Newton led the team in pass breakups and had the fourth most defensive points. Newton also had all three fumble recoveries this season for the Bears (his most impressive is the bullying of Palmetto’s Zach Edwards. Newton met him in the backfield and literally ripped the ball from his arms like a father would do to a toddler). The final member of this trio is Eugene Scott. Scott, along with Pendleton, led the team in INTs, had one of the three blocked kicks, and was the fifth leading defensive points gainer.

The defense, as the whole team, kept battling and it showed as the Bears ended the year on an upswing. With some of the defensive starters returning, it will be great to see how the defense can improve next season.

For all of the individual stats check out the 2020 season page.

Quick Stats

 



Conclusion


As we handed Coach Blackston the stat sheet after the Emerald game he looked at me and said “We finished”. This team kept getting knocked down, kept having hurdles to overcome, but they finished. However, I think Coach Blackston left out two words: “We Finished Like Bears”. And that is how I view this team. They never quit, never make excuses, and keep battling no matter what, and that is what makes a BHP Bear.

What a strange year and honestly I am glad to see us get through it. The health situations around us are very serious, but I am glad we were able to get some mental relief as we watched and followed the Bears this season. We, along with I would guess everyone, hope next season is back to “normal”. Nevertheless, let us remember this team and what they overcame to play a game we all love.

This is the part of the post where we say thank you (pretty fitting being the day before Thanksgiving). Let me start by saying thank you to these players. Thank you for showing us what perseverance is, showing us that we will get through what we are going through, and showing us how to play for the team and not ourselves.

We want to say thank you to Coach Blackston. Thank you for your leadership through this strange year, thank you for your dedication to the players, and thank you for allowing us to do the stats for the team. Thank you to the other coaches. These coaches rarely (well probably never) get mentioned in these posts, but they are the ones getting the players ready for the game and most likely have the largest ownership in the outcomes of their players. Thank you for the hard work, the long nights, and the weekend work. We see you and are proud of the product you put on the field.

Thank you to the athletic department and the school as a whole. Working tirelessly to ensure safety in an environment that is new to all of us.

Thank you to the Press Box crew. It seems like most of our stat gathering turns into a group effort on Friday nights and it is always great to talk ball with you all.

Thank you to Joel, Allen, and Chandler Kay. I spend more time on Friday nights in the fall with you all than my wife and boys. It is great to hear the stories that are told and really talk about the team from a group that loves BHP football as much as nearly anyone I know.

Thanks to my mom for supplying us with boiled peanuts and texting dad to quiet down because she can hear him yelling on the radio.

Thanks to my dad. Some may know that he and I work together to gather the stats on Friday night. He tested positive earlier in the season and actually had to miss the Wren game. I want to state that having you beside me is indescribably helpful. But I want to thank you more for the time we spent riding to each game and the time before each game we were able to just talk about football and life. Thank you.

Lastly (and of course I am saving the most important for last), I want to thank my wife and boys. Without her none of this is possible and only part of that is her editing my posts. I am thankful for her support and willingness to let me dabble in this hobby (I could make a whole post of all she does to allow this to happen). And thank you to our boys for making it a little easier on Mom on those Friday nights when Dad has a football game to go to.



Now as the season comes to an end we also will put the Bear Tracks posts to hibernate as well. However, we do have some series we want to explore in the offseason, so if you have any suggestions contact us through our social media accounts.

In the meantime, please explore the site and dive deep into BHP Football history. And if you have any stats for seasons and games before 2014, reach out to us on social media.



Make sure to check in periodically and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for BHP Bear coverage and always remember, HOW BOUT THEM BEARS!.

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