2023 Week 2 Bear Tracks

Bear fans, How Bout Them Bears Friday night? Did you catch the Bears unleashing four quarters of peak BHP football all in one spectacular evening? From the defensive heroics to the ground game dominance to the electric stadium vibes, it was practically a perfect Bears night to remember. What a kickoff to the season!

Now, let's dive into last week's Bear extravaganza before we gaze ahead to this week's preview. BHP squared off against the Westside Rams, both squads proudly sporting top-10 status in their respective classifications. When the clock hit zero, the Bears stood tall at 1-0 after putting on an absolute clinic.

Rewinding to last week's pregame chatter, I delved into the arsenal that Westside boasted on the offensive side of the ball. My main question was whether the BHP defense could slow the Rams' offense enough to let the Bears' own offense keep up. But you know what? It's a worry we can kick to the curb. This defense? Oh man, it's got that edge, that ferocity that turns a bunch of talented dudes into a crew on a whole other level. Let me tell you about two standout moments that define this intensity.

First off, early in the game, right after BHP had raced 80 yards in three plays to get on the board, Westside tries to answer back. It's 2nd and 5, the Rams run a pass play with an inside receiver streaking on a seam route while the outside guy swings back on a comeback. The Bears turn up the heat from the right side of the line, causing the Westside QB to roll out of the pocket. And boom, BHP’s Tye Kelly races in like a freight train and delivers a blow on the QB. That hit? It echoed through the Westside offense like a Bear Battle Cry. Two snaps later, the Rams were punting.

Now, the second play that had me excited about this defense. It's a play that directly bankrolled points for the Bears. After a 14-play, 81-yard trek culminated in a touchdown that had BHP up by 7 with just a tad over a minute left in the opening half, Westside took over. Guess what happens? BHP's Tajeh Watson-Martin drops back, snags the pass out of thin air, and trots it back to the 26-yard line. Next thing you know, the Bears are lining up for a 26-yard field goal with 15 ticks on the clock, and they head into halftime with a 10-point lead. Those plays? Not flukes, my friends. It's about putting the players in sweet spots, allowing them to trust their instincts, and crafting some downright spectacular football. And don't get me wrong, these are just a taste, we could reel off a highlight reel as long as a Hard Knocks episode.

Shifting gears to the Bears' offense—man, it was like Coach Blackston drew up his ideal game script for a BHP attack. 62 runs, 8 passes, 432 rushing yards, and an offensive line that treated the opposition like ragdolls for a full four quarters. Just close your eyes and envision that, and you've got yourself a picture-perfect BHP offensive masterpiece.

Now, I'm not one to overlook details, and I've got to point out a single play that might've slipped past some eyes but was as crucial as any last Friday. We're in the fourth quarter, Westside scores on the opening play of the quarter, and the BHP lead is down to a mere 3 points. The Bears are at midfield after a 17-yard rush, things are stalling. Here comes the pivotal 3rd and 14. Noah Thomas takes the snap and rockets the ball through the air before Tay Paul even completes his break. But hold up, Paul pivots, stretches, and snags the ball in mid-air. Here is the impressive part! He's still a cool 4 yards shy of the first down. Now, what does he do? Dances around one defender, splits two more, crosses the marker, and sets BHP up for a fresh set of downs. Three snaps later? You guessed it—a Bears touchdown. That catch by Paul? One catch, one standout play, and in my book, it's the dagger that sealed the deal.

So, here's the takeaway from this wild ride: this team? It's got the goods to be something truly special. But hey, even as intoxicating as this first win was, let's keep our eyes on the real prize—the championships (Region - haven’t won since 2018, Upper State and State - only won one in 2004). Don't get me wrong, I'm head over heels for this victory and this kind of football, but you and I both know, there's a lot more in store this season. And man, I'm chomping at the bit for it.

(But don't kid yourself, we won't be breaking it down this deep every single week! There was just too much not to.)

Week 2 Preview

Week two? Here we are, folks! As the Great Bambino, Babe Ruth, famously quipped, “Yesterday’s homers don’t win today’s games.” A little wisdom from the Sultan of Swat for all of us as the Bears take on a foe that may not be at the same level as Westside last week.

So, BHP is packing its bags and hitting the road, headed straight for Laurens Raiders territory. Now, a quick glance at the Raiders' recent scores might have you sighing in relief. They took some licks, falling 55-9 to Hillcrest and 49-7 to Clinton. But, c’mon! These scores? Mere numbers. Both these teams they tangled with? Postseason juggernauts. Never judge a book by its cover, or a team by two early scores.

Our story this week? BHP’s mission to level up. Look, no opponent should be treated lightly. That's Sports 101. But if BHP sticks to improving their game, piece by piece, the wins will follow. They always do.

Let me toss a couple of tidbits your way—fun facts, quick dips into my twisted football brain, call 'em what you will:

• BHP’s history boasts just one 2,000-yard rusher. But after Friday night’s 197-yard outing, Marquise Henderson is lacing up to be numero dos.
• Last Friday night BHP had 62 rushes. That's not just impressive; it tied the school's record. Yet, something tells me BHP is itching to keep that rush percentage consistent. But games this season might not lend themselves to the same amount of production time. The key for BHP? Extract those juicy yards from their powerhouse trio and keep the record-breaking dream alive.
• Expect the Bears to turn up the heat on defense. To say that those linebackers are speedy might be an understatement. And having the flexibility to rush the passer AND halt the run with just four linemen? That's a defensive coordinator's dream.
• A little intuition from your’s truly, keep your eyes peeled for some long-range fireworks from the Bears. With the box packed to the brim and the dynamite speed of Alexander and Paul, BHP might just have a few aces up their sleeve streaking down the field.
• I'm putting it out there: BHP’s got the horsepower to topple the single-game rushing record of 508 yards, set against Wren in 2015. You heard it here first, it might even be this week.

2022 Game Stats (Last Matchup)

Score: BHP 48 -- Laurens 20

BHP Yardage:

Team Rushing: 40 rushes for 303 yards and 5 TDs
Team Passing: 14/19/0 for 129 yards and 2 TDs
Team Total: 59 plays for 432 yards and 7 TDs

Rushing Leader: #8 Justin Lathon - 9 rushes for 106 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: #7 AJ Pendleton - 12/17/0 for 129 yards and 2 TDs
Receiving Leaders: #19 Drew Taylor - 5 receptions for 49 yards

Laurens Team Yardage:

Team Rushing: 21 rushes for 92 yards
Team Passing: 18/29/0 for 175 yards and 2 TDs
Team Total: 50 plays for 267 yards and 2 TDs

Rushing Leader: #11 James Rawl - 13 rushes for 49 yards
Passing Leader: #11 James Rawl - 18/25/0 for 175 yards and 2 TDs
Receiving Leaders: #5 Cayson Elledge - 5 receptions for 48 yards

Quick Stats

• BHP is 11-14 all-time against Laurens.
• Under Coach Blackston, BHP is 6-1 against Laurens and has won their last 4 matchups.
• BHP is 33-21-2 all-time in week 2 games, 15-7 since 2000.
• BHP is 15-12-1 in away week 2 games all-time, 6-5 since 2000.
• Since 2010 BHP has started the season 2-0 only 7 times.
• The 432 rushing yards against Westside was only the 5th game that BHP rushed for 400 or more yards in a game since 2014.
• Since 2014 BHP has rushed 60 or more times only 3 times, Friday against Westside (62 rushes) was the 3rd and tied for the most in BHP history.
• Against Westside, BHP had their 16th game since 2014 where they registered 2 100 yard rushers in the same game.
• BHP had 24 first downs against Westside, since 2014 there have only been 3 games that had more (2016 Greenville - 25, 2021 Powdersville - 25, 2022 Wren - 25).
• Against Westside BHP was 4 for 4 on 4th down tries.
• BHP’s 432 rushing yards against Westside was 53% more than the 2022 season average.
• Laurens has scored more points on defense than on offense this season (9 Defensive points, 7 offensive points).
• In the 1st Qrt against Westside, BHP had a rushing average of 12.8 yards.
• BHP was penalized for only 35 yards against Westside, 49.8% less than the 2022 season average.

Conclusion

And just like that, we're flipping the page to a fresh chapter. Here come the Bears, hitting the road this Friday. Now, I've watched more matchups than I can count, and while this week might not have the same sizzle as last week's blockbuster, let’s not kid ourselves – every game is a chance for this team to flex, to define themselves. For the Bears? It’s another shot to show everyone that spark, that 'je ne sais quoi' that makes everyone ask “How Bout Them Bears”?!

My Crystal Ball Prediction: BHP 49 - Laurens 10.

Attention, all you Bear fans: Let's make a mini-pilgrimage through Princeton to Laurens High. Why? To turn the District 55 stadium into Bear Country!

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Stay in the loop, folks. Because on Friday, we will be dropping the GameDay Graphic and will be live Tweeting stats and highlights during the game.

One for the road, “How Bout Them Bears”