2021 Week 10 Bear Tracks

The Bears stay undefeated in the region with a huge team win over Seneca. In a game that ended with the most points being scored by the Bears this year, BHP played their best game of the season. But the games just get tougher from here on out.

BHP now looks to take on the Wren Hurricanes in a game that has at least a home playoff game in the balance. The Bears will be looking to get a win over the Hurricanes for the first time since 2018.

Week 10 Preview

It has been a few weeks since BHP has taken on another Anderson County team. It just so happens that BHP will take the short trip to Wren this Friday Night. This matchup will lock in second place in the region and a home playoff game, however with a BHP win the Bears will have a chance to play for a region championship against Daniel.

Wren comes into the game 3-5 on the year and 1-1 in the region. Although they have a losing record, Wren has played one of the toughest schedules in the state at any level. Wren’s losses came against Dutch Fork, T.L. Hanna, Powdersville, Hillcrest, and Daniel. All except for Hillcrest are undefeated on the season. Wren has beat Easley, Palmetto, and Seneca.

BHP must continue with the momentum they were able to gain from the Seneca game. Finishing drives, playing tough defense deep into the game, and great special teams are what helped BHP get the win last week and they will need to do that and even more to come out ahead this week.

2020 Game Stats

Score: BHP 20 -- Wren 53

BHP Yardage:

Team Rushing: 45 rushes for 228 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 6/13/1 for 132 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 58 plays for 360 yards and 3 TDs

Rushing Leader: #2 Tyler Fields - 12 rushes for 90 yards
Passing Leader: #2 Tyler Fields - 6/11/0 for 132 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leaders: #4 Eli Strickland - 2 receptions for 21 yards
Defensive Leader: #8 Jatius Geer - 2 sacks, 3 first hits, 2 caused fumbles, and 31 defensive points

Wren Team Yardage:

Team Rushing: 37 rushes for 216 yards and 6 TDs
Team Passing: 15/18/0 for 141 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 55 plays for 357 yards and 7 offensive TDs

Rushing Leader: #6 Zorian Young - 11 rushes for 93 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #15 Noah Staples - 15/18/0 for 141 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leaders: #80 Mitchell Giroue - 4 receptions for 27 yards

Quick Stats

• BHP is 21-16 all-time against Wren, 18-16 in region matchups.
• BHP’s all-time rushing yards in a game record held by Anthony White happened in 2013 vs Wren.
• BHP’s top two most rushing yards in a game have come against Wren (2013 Anothony White - 409 yards, and 2015 Juwann Abney - 356 yards).
• BHP is 78 rushing yards away from surpassing 2000 rushing yards as a team.
• BHP is 59 passing yards away from 1000 passing yards as a team.
• BHP had 0 turnovers against Seneca. This is the 2nd game this season BHP has done so.
• Since 2014, BHP has had 20 games with 0 turnovers and are 19-1 in those games (the only loss came to T.L. Hanna in 2017).
• BHP is causing nearly 2 turnovers a game this season. The only game without a takeaway was against Abbeville.
• In the last 4 games, BHP has thrown 8 TDs. In the first 4 BHP threw only 1.
• BHP rushed for 7 TDs against Seneca. That is the 3rd time since 2014 doing so (2019 vs Seneca, 2019 vs Palmetto).
• Friday’s game against Seneca was the first since 2014 that BHP had less than 5 attempted passes in a game.
• Seneca’s running back duo of Adrian Lewis and Camsley Campbell was only the second combo that has rushed for 100 yards each in a game against BHP since 2014. (Only other time was 2017 vs T.L. Hanna - Brylon Peterson - 139, and Jaydon McKinney - 114).
• BHP had -14 total yards after the 1st quarter against Seneca, which was the least in a quarter since 2014.
• Coach Blackston is at 98 career wins at BHP.

Quick Note

As we get deep into the season I have observed two things that could be interesting.

First, the more I follow and watch football the more I find that I do not know. One of the aspects that have become apparent of how different a coach's brains are from a fan’s is the abundance of patience. This was on full display Friday night. The Bears were down by 10 at one point in the second quarter and that combined with the ease of which Seneca marched down the field on the first few drives, that deficit felt like a mountain. The Bears chipped away and finished the half down by 3. In the second half, most would think the Bears would need to pass more and be more aggressive. BHP did the complete opposite, only throwing one pass in the second half. And the outcome? BHP outscored Seneca 34-8 in the second half.

I say all that just to caution all of us these next few Fridays. There will be a time in the game that we would think it is time to try to manufacture a big play. What will actually need to be done is to have patience and let the plays come in the time they are actually needed. BHP has players and playmakers, in time they will make plays.

Second, let me present this scenario (and hopefully speak it into existence). Coach Blackston currently has 98 career wins at BHP, I know you know that we have been talking about getting him to 100 wins all season. Let’s say BHP wins Friday against Wren which would put him just one win away from triple digits. Now this is where it gets interesting. BHP vs Daniel (who is undefeated) for a region championship. Could 100 wins come with so much riding on the game? We think so! Coach Blackston gets 100 wins against Daniel and wins the region championship at the same time!

Conclusion

The proverbial rubber meets the road this week. The last few years the Bears have had a hard time winning against Wren. However, as we have said in a few of our past posts, games are not won on past performances. This is a new opportunity to Bear Down and get a win. And with a win, the Bears get a chance at a region championship next week.

Prediction: BHP - 31 -- Wren 28

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