2023 Week 6 Bear Tracks

Bear Fans, it's that time! We've finally hit region play, and I couldn't be more amped up for these games that truly count toward a championship. But before we dive headfirst into what might be the most pivotal clash of the season so far, let's take a quick gander at the last non-conference skirmish against Walhalla.

So, the Bears embarked on a trek up to Walhalla last Friday to face off against the Razorbacks, putting the finishing touches on this season's non-region play. The result? A 63-35 triumph for the Bears. On paper, it looks like a romp – a comfortable 28-point victory. The Bears racked up nearly 600 yards in total offense and shackled Walhalla to a measly 2 yards per carry. But here's the kicker: it was maybe the worst game played by the Bears this season.

The Bears never trailed, and apart from a brief minute and a half in the 1st quarter, BHP held a two-touchdown cushion throughout. However, it was a different kind of dominance, a departure from our usual M.O. But perhaps, my fellow fans, that's where we need to focus our attention. Maybe this newfound aerial assault could take the Bear team to an even higher plane of excellence.

There were issues to address in all facets of the game, no doubt about it. But I have the utmost faith that the Bears will put in the work. From an outsider's perspective, last week might have seemed like a potential trap game. Nevertheless, BHP will need to step up their game on all fronts and deliver an A+ effort this week if they want to keep that undefeated streak alive. It's all in the name of that championship dream!

Shout Outs:

Every game there are a few guys that just...stand out. Here are my notables from the Walhalla matchup:

• Noah Thomas: When Walhalla stacked the box, the Bears unleashed Noah Thomas, and he didn't disappoint. He threw for a whopping 267 yards, connecting on 4 TDs with a jaw-dropping 79% completion rate. But what really caught my eye was how smoothly he orchestrated it all. In the early part of the season, I noticed his passes looked sharper when he was on the move. But against Walhalla, he stood tall in that pocket, delivering pinpoint passes all over the field, whether they were out wide or deep downfield.
• Kamarion Glenn: This freshman sensation is making waves, folks. He dished out 5 assists, racked up 2 solo tackles, and was the second-highest point earner on defense last week. Kamarion, along with ExZavier Burns and Kylan Dixon, formed an impenetrable interior line that held Walhalla to a meager 2.2 yards per carry. One minor suggestion, though: Kamarion, you might want to consider swapping that jersey number (he's #62) because, from my vantage point in the press box, he and Kylan Dixon (#61) look like twins! And that is with Kylan already having a twin on the team!
• Qua Alexander: Hold on to your seats, folks, because this guy's speed is off the charts! Out of Qua's seven receptions against Walhalla, a whopping four of them went for 25 yards or more. It's like a recurring nightmare for opposing defenses. They start to doze off, and then bam! Qua finds a gear nobody else has, leaving D-backs in the dust, and he's off to the races.

Week 6 Preview

And here we are, folks, the matchup we've all had circled on our calendars since summer's dawn. BHP is set to host none other than the reigning region and upper state champs, the Powdersville Patriots. In the immortal words of the great Nature Boy Ric Flair, "If you want to be the man, you gotta beat the man."

Powdersville enters this season's showdown with a 2-3 record (0-0 in the region). They kicked off the season with two heart-wrenching losses, the first against Broome, ending in a highly controversial 22-21 score, and the second, an overtime thriller against Abbeville, finishing 35-33. However, they bounced back with two consecutive wins over Mauldin (41-32) and Pendleton (56-40). Their visit to Hillcrest resulted in a tough 52-14 loss, but let's not forget that Hillcrest could very well be the cream of the crop in the 5A division. It's worth noting that Powdersville began their season in Week 0, with a bye week leading up to this crucial matchup.

Last season, Powdersville made an incredible run to the state championship game, led by a group of 21 seniors, many of whom have since moved on to play college football and most played both sides of the ball. This year's Patriots look quite different from last season, but they do have the key piece in QB Eli Hudgins. I've talked about Hudgins' prowess in a few preseason posts, and I must say, he's got a tight grip on this offense. While he's an excellent passer, it's his running ability that truly sends shivers down the spines of defenders.

Powdersville has also shown flashes of brilliance on the defensive side of the ball. In their first three games this season, they allowed just 34 points combined in the 1st through 3rd quarters, which comes down to a mere 3.8 points per quarter. They've built a reputation for playing stout defense, and much like BHP, they understand that one of the best defenses is a strong offense. It's a strategy that's served both teams well.

Now, let's shift our focus to BHP. The Bears must elevate their game, especially given that they're facing a team significantly tougher than their recent opponents. If Powdersville had faced the same schedule as BHP, I wouldn't be surprised to see them sporting an undefeated record.

One critical aspect of this game will be turnovers. Last season, both teams combined for six turnovers, and in 2021, BHP had three turnovers to Powdersville's two. Just last week, we witnessed BHP fumble twice. However, over the last three seasons, considering the trio of Henderson, Robbs, and Lathon, BHP has averaged a fumble every 120 rushes. Let's hope we've got some time before the next one.

I've pinpointed three key areas where BHP needs to concentrate to secure the victory on Friday:

1. Start fast and prevent Powdersville from gaining early momentum in the 1st and 3rd quarters.
   
   This season, excluding the Hillcrest game, Powdersville has outscored opponents 44-12 in the 1st quarter and 26-7 in the 3rd quarter, a total of 70-19. In contrast, BHP has dominated their opponents, outscoring them 115-48 in those same quarters. Both teams thrive on fast starts and capitalizing after halftime. The team that executes this better will have a significant advantage.
2. Excel at making open-field tackles.
   
   Although this Powdersville team lacks the star power of Thomas Williams and Drake Sloan, they return a slew of offensive talent. With playmakers like Christopher Cruell, Landon Fowler, Elijah Huggins, Jack Hunsinger, and newcomer Jayden Pepper, this offense boasts serious firepower. The Powdersville coaching staff excels at creating one-on-one matchups for these players, so BHP must step up defensively to limit big gains.
3. Show patience and stick to the game plan.
   
   This might be the toughest challenge of all, well for me at least. We often expect explosive plays every snap from BHP, but that's just not realistic, especially against a formidable opponent like Powdersville. The Bears need to embrace Coach Boone's wisdom from the movie "Remember the Titans" – "It's like Novacaine. Just give it time; it always works." Let's see the Bears rely on their powerful offensive line to bulldoze the road and let Shaheem Robbs steamroll the opposition. Give Qua Alexander and Tay Paul the space to wreak havoc behind that defense. Allow those big fellas on the defensive line to swallow up blockers and free up the linebackers for game-changing plays. The defensive backs should play aggressively, knowing that the front seven is putting pressure on the QB. And most importantly, unleash Marquise Henderson!

The Bears need to deliver their best performance of the season. They've been gearing up, and after Westside, most have recognized this as the next true challenge. While BHP has been gaining more recognition statewide, let's remember that everyone is starting fresh in the region, and much like last season, this game could very well determine the region champion. Strap in, folks, for what promises to be an exhilarating showdown.

2022 Game Stats (Last Matchup)

Score: BHP 32 -- Powdersville 47

BHP Stats:

Team Rushing: 48 rushes for 225 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 13/23/0 for 190 yards and 2 TDs
Team Total: 71 plays for 415 yards and 4 TDs

Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 13 rushes for 103 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: #7 AJ Pendleton - 13/23/0 for 190 yards and 2 TDs
Receiving Leader: #4 Eli Strickland - 4 receptions for 76 yards and 1 TD
Defensive Leader: #34 Kenard McGlotten - 5 Assists, 3 Solo, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 28 Defensive points

Powdersville Stats:

Team Rushing: 39 rushes for 335 yards and 5 TDs
Team Passing: 9/13/0 for 113 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 52 plays for 448 yards and 6 TDs

Rushing Leader: #21 Thomas Williams - 15 carries for 114 yards and 3 TDs
Passing Leader: #16 Eli Hudgins - 8/12/0 for 105 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leader: #4 Drake Sloan - 3 receptions for 33 yards

Quick Stats

• BHP is 4-2 all-time against Powdersville.
• Since 2000 BHP has started 5-0 eight times (2023, 2022, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 2004, 2000)
• The 592 total yards is the 4th most since 2014 (2019 vs Seneca - 621, 2015 vs Wren - 601, 2017 vs Powdersville - 601).
• The 422 total yards at halftime against Walhalla was the only time since 2014 that BHP had 400 or more total yards in a half.
• The 267 passing yards against Walhalla was the 9th time since 2014 that BHP passed for 250 or more yards in a game.
• The 4 passing TDs were the 5th time BHP had thrown for 4 or more passing TDs in a game (5 passing TDs in a game is the record).
• Noah Thomas became only the 3rd BHP passer to pass for 250 or more yards in a game since 2014 (Camden Bratcher did it 6 times, Logan Milford once).
• The 42 points scored in the 1st half was the 8th time BHP had scored 40 or more points in a half.
• BHP has scored at least 5 rushing TDs in every game this season.
• Since 2014, there have only been 3 BHP receivers to gain 150 or more yards in a single game (2023 - Qua Alexander - 159 yards vs Walhalla; 2018 Jacob Howard - 167 yards vs Greenville; 2017 - Zy Scott - 151 yards vs Greenville).
• BHP is averaging the most points per game in all SC 3A (51.2 points per game).
• There are only 4 teams currently in SC 3A that are undefeated (BHP, Daniel, Gilbert, Philip Simmons).
• BHP is averaging over 500 total yards per game this season. Since 2014 BHP has averaged over 400 yards per game twice for a season (2022 - 419.75 and 2015 - 402.27).
• BHP is the only team in their region with a positive point differential.
• BHP has 36 plays that have gone for over 20 yards and have allowed only 19.

Wrap Up

It all kicks off this Friday, and I can hardly contain my excitement! A championship bid hangs in the balance, and the Bears are about to embark on their journey towards it. The challenge ahead is monumental, but there's a reservoir of talent in that Bears squad, and my gut tells me they're poised to make quite the statement, sending shockwaves across the entire state.

Prediction: BHP 42 - Powdersville 21

Now, let's have a chat, fellow Bear Fans. It's time to ratchet up that intensity another notch for this region showdown. Arrive early, crank up the volume, and keep it dialed to eleven. When you hear that unmistakable cry of "Itttttt Issssss Thirrrrrrddddd Dowwwwn!" or the Bear Growl, or those ominous Doom Gongs resonating through the air, leap out of your seats and unleash that primal roar. It's the stuff that elevates this team to another level.

Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Stay in the loop, folks. Because 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”