BHP faced Wren in the last game of the regular season with a home playoff opportunity in the balance. Coming off the one-point loss last season to Wren, BHP would be looking to avenge that loss this season.
From the start, BHP could not be stopped on offense. The Bears scored on every possession except for two, and one of those started with only 23 seconds left in the half. The Bears ended with over 300 rushing yards and more than double the time of possession. The Bears dominated on offense led by a huge performance by AJ Pendleton.
The Bear defense showed the same dominance in the first half as well, only allowing 65 total yards in the first half. The Hurricanes switched quarterbacks and that change gave the Bears some trouble in the second half, but even with the switch, BHP only allowed 184 total yards in the second half.
BHP finished off the regular season in the way that they did most of the entire season. Now the Bears turn their focus back to Walhalla as the playoffs begin.
Round 1 Preview
And now the real season starts. With their only loss this season coming in region play to Powdersville, BHP finished second in the region and secured a home playoff game. With that, the Bears will match up against Walhalla who finished third in Region One.
BHP matched up with Walhalla earlier this season and outmatched the Razorbacks throughout the entire game. Walhalla finished the season 6-4 and 3-2 in their region. Their wins came against Chesnee, Southside, Palmetto, Crescent, West-Oak, and Pendleton, while their losses came against, Woodmont, BHP, Daniel, and Seneca.
Although BHP has played and dominated Walhalla, this matchup puts the Bears in a strange predicament. This will only be the fifth time BHP will play an opponent for the second time in one season since 2000. Of the previous four rematches (2019 Greenville, 2009 Clinton, 2008 Clinton, and 2004 Clinton) BHP is 1-3 in those games, the only win coming in the 2004 State Championship season. I will caveat that Walhalla is in no way as good as those other teams, but rematches hold different challenges than a normal matchup.
Along with the rematch factor, we all know the pressure and stakes that the playoffs bring. There is no room for slip-ups. Every game must be prepared for and played as if it could be the last. This includes not looking past any opponents. It is so easy for fans to look at Walhalla as an easy win and start looking toward most likely Clinton. But Walhalla is the opponent, and you can only play one opponent per week. The Bears have to put the outside noises away and play the most complete game of the season and only build on their regular season accomplishments.
One note that is an absolutely huge positive for the Bears is how BHP has started so many underclassmen. Early in the season, this could be seen as a liability, but with ten games under their belt, those underclassmen are now basically a football year older. This experience is now an asset and BHP can rely even more on these underclassmen.
I feel BHP has the edge in every aspect of the upcoming game. They have to have the mentality of a champion at this time and show their dominance early and often in the game Friday.
2022 Game Stats (Last Matchup)
Score: BHP 44 -- Walhalla 8
BHP Yardage:
Team Rushing: 33 rushes for 246 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 17/20/0 for 214 yards and 4 TDs
Team Total: 51 plays for 460 yards and 6 TDs
Rushing Leader: #18 Marquise Henderson - 11 rushes for 101 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: #7 AJ Pendleton - 17/18/0 for 214 yards and 4 TDs
Receiving Leaders: #19 Drew Taylor - 9 receptions for 89 yards
Defensive Leader: #2 Omari Jackson - 7 assists, 2 solos, 6 first hits, 1 int, and 34 defensive points
Walhalla Team Yardage:
Team Rushing: 31 rushes for 149 yards and 1 TD
Team Passing: 13/22/1 for 121 yards
Team Total: 53 plays for 270 yards and 1 TD
Rushing Leader: #15 Bryce Payne - 13 rushes for 59 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: #15 Bryce Payne - 13/22/1 for 121 yards
Receiving Leaders: #1 Nathaniel Collins - 7 receptions for 61 yards
Quick Stats
- BHP is 24-5 all-time against Walhalla.
- This season was the 12th time BHP has won at least 9 games in a regular season.
- This BHP team will try to become only the 9th team in BHP history to win 10 or more games in a season.
- BHP has the 4th largest points differential for the season in 3A.
- BHP is one of only 6 teams in 3A to score over 400 points this season.
- BHP is one of only 5 teams in 3A to have 9 or more wins this season (BHP, Powdersville, Dillon, Clinton, Daniel).
- BHP has scored the 3rd most region points in 3A this season (behind Daniel - 266 and Powdersville - 247).
- BHP is one of only 9 3A teams on a 4 or more game-winning streak.
- BHP has allowed 163 points this season, which is 6th least in 3A this season.
- BHP averaged 42.9 points per game, which is the most point per game for a regular season in BHP History (next 2019 - 42.7).
- BHP is 25-28 all-time in playoff games (Home: 24-17 , Away - 1-11).
- BHP is 16-11 all-time in first-round playoff games (Home: 16-6 , Away: 0-5).
- Under Coach Blackston BHP is 7-2 in home round 1 playoff games.
- BHP has averaged 25.8 points per game in home playoff games while allowing 19.2 points per game.
- BHP has faced 25 different opponents in the playoffs all-time, 13 opponents only once. BHP is 9-4 in games against a new playoff opponent.
- This will only be the fifth time BHP will play an opponent for the second time in one season since 2000.
- Of the previous four previous rematches since 2000 (Greenville 2019, Clinton 2009, 2008, and 2004) BHP is 1-3 in those games, the only win coming in the 2004 State Championship season.
- BHP has gained 2,941 rushing yards this season, 417 yards from the single-season team record.
- Since 2014, there have only been 7 games where there were no total turnovers in a game, Friday against Wren was the 7th.
- The 168 points scored in the 2nd quarter of games this season is the most points scored in a quarter since 2014 (since we have play-by-play data).
- BHP has rushed for 20 or more yards 30 times this season but has only allowed 7 rushes to go for more than 20 yards.
- AJ Pendleton has scored 12 rushing and 20 passing TDs this season, the 32 total TDs is an all-time BHP record.
- Eli Strickland currently has 66 career receptions which is 5th all-time at BHP.
- Peter Bertoni has 52 PATs this season, 3 away from tying the BHP record for most PATs in a season.
- Of the 4 BHP rushers that have rushed 10 or more yards, all 4 average more than 5 yards per carry. (Henderson - 10.65, Pendleton - 6.35, Robbs - 5.61, and Lathon - 6.58).
- Marquise Henderson is one of only 4 BHP rushers to gain 1,000 or more yards in a season since 2014 (Jawunn Abney and RJ Ellis did it twice in that span).
- The 63 rushes against Wren were only the second time since 2014 BHP rushed 60 or more times in a game.
- Since 2014 BHP has rushed for 300 or more yards in 30 games, in those games BHP is 28-2.
- BHP has allowed 17 2-point conversions since 2014, Walhalla is the only one to convert one against BHP this season.
- The last matchup against Walhalla, AJ Pendleton completed 17 of 18 passes which tied the BHP record for the highest completion percentage in a game.
Note To Fans
If you have read any of our posts in the last few years, well since we started the Bear Tracks posts at all, you will know we steer far away from any criticism. But after Friday night against Wren, we need to address one thing.
The atmosphere in the stadium and in the stands was so low that it felt like a preseason game. The game against Wren was Senior Night, the last game of the regular season, and had playoff implications. None of that seemed to make a difference to the Bear fans.
This team is special and they deserve so much support. These two communities have a rich history of supporting the team, but last Friday was not one of them.
I heard a lot of complaining about the personal fouls that BHP committed, but in my view, at least someone had the emotion to get fired up.
I say all that to lead up to this plea. Bear fans please show up early, create a buzz in the pregame, and get into the game and BE LOUD! Make a BHP home game one that no one wants to face. BHP has a unique opportunity that other teams do not have. Two towns united to pull for one team and that passion can help the team win games.
Depending on how the playoffs play out, this Friday could be the last home game of the season, so please Bear Fans, make it a special atmosphere and give this team the energy to dominate.
Conclusion
And as fast as Marquise Henderson sprints for an 80-yard touchdown, this regular season has come to an end. And what a run it has been, but the run needs to continue. The teams start to be more talented and the stakes are as high as ever as the playoffs start. And the Bears have to answer the call every week.
Prediction: BHP 35 - Walhalla - 12
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Go Bears!