2023 Week 7 Bear Tracks

Hey there, Bear fans! Boy, do we have a fun one this week! The Bears clashed with Powdersville in what could easily be dubbed the heavyweight bout of the year thus far. When the dust settled, it was Them Bears who emerged victorious, maintaining their unblemished record and securing a firm grip on the top spot in the region. Now, with heads held high, they set their sights on their upcoming showdown with Palmetto.

But before we dive into the excitement that lies ahead, let's rewind a bit and relish in the glory of last Friday's dominant win. The stage was set for a classic showdown, with both teams trading blows like two prizefighters in the ring. Powdersville, with precision and patience, struck first, marching 77 yards down the field to notch a touchdown on their opening drive. However, the boys from BHP wasted no time in retaliating, countering with a lightning-fast 78-yard drive that culminated in a TD.

The Bears then cranked up the heat on defense. Powdersville's next drive saw a wayward pass intercepted by BHP's Justin Lathon, who took it 24 yards to the house for a pick-six. The tables appeared to be turning, but Powdersville showed resilience, responding with a lightning-quick 55-yard speed option play for another touchdown. By the time the second quarter reached its midway point, the score was deadlocked at 21 apiece.

At this juncture, it felt like we were in for a barnburner, perhaps a gridiron shootout destined to finish with a basketball score, something like 77-70. But then, the Bears' defense rose to the occasion in spectacular fashion. With just under seven minutes left in the first half, Powdersville's Eli Hudgins dropped back to pass, but the ball came up short and was intercepted by Tajeh Watson-Martin. Three plays later, Marquise Henderson burst through the line for a 48-yard rushing touchdown, putting the Bears back in the lead.

The Bears' defense continued to tighten the screws on the very next Powdersville drive, forcing a quick three-and-out. Taking possession with 2 minutes and 55 seconds left in the half, the Bears orchestrated a 65-yard drive in just over two minutes, extending their halftime lead to 35-21. That was the turning point, the moment when the game shifted decisively in favor of Them Bears.

As the second half commenced, BHP showcased one of their most dominant performances of the season yet. Following the opening kickoff, the Bears embarked on a 68-yard march that consumed a staggering 7 minutes and 50 seconds of the third quarter. When Powdersville finally got their hands on the ball again, they found themselves trailing 42-21, with just over 16 minutes remaining in the contest.

And let's not forget the masterclass the Bears’ defense put on. Powdersville's first two drives in the second half ended in a turnover on downs and an interception. The Patriots managed to find the end zone again with a mere three minutes left in the game, but by that point, BHP was cruising with a comfortable 53-28 lead.

This showdown was undoubtedly the marquee 3A game in the state, and there were skeptics who doubted the Bears. Sure, before this game, they hadn't faced many formidable opponents besides the Westside clash, but this victory served as an emphatic statement that this team is, indeed, something special. While it may seem like the spotlight shines on the Bear's offense, take a moment to appreciate the defensive prowess on display. Three takeaways, one returned for a touchdown, and the only points conceded in the second half were when BHP held a commanding five-touchdown lead.

I could keep talking about this game for ages, folks, but one thing's for certain: this was a game that had been circled on the calendar, and the Bears delivered in spectacular fashion. Now, they sit atop the region, and it looks like the regular season will come down to the wire in a colossal clash against Wren. Bear Nation, get ready for more thrilling action ahead!

Shout Outs:

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

• Shaheem Robbs: Now, stats might not tell you the whole story, but this guy is the engine that keeps this offense churning. In that marathon 3rd-quarter drive that went on for nearly 8 minutes, Robbs was the workhorse. He had 7 carries for 26 yards and capped it off with a touchdown. Let me tell you, that drive and his brute force, made it seem like that's what finally broke the Patriots' spirit.
• Noah Thomas: Folks, this kid is on fire, and it's not a one-week wonder. Some folks talk about needing a "game manager," but Noah and his receiving crew are proving they can be the game-changers. The precision he displayed was simply outstanding. We're not talking about easy screens and sweeps; we're talking about deep bombs, 30, 40, even 50-yard passes, hitting the mark with precision. 142 passing yards? That's just the start. Factor in the pass interferences he drew and his knack for drawing the defense offside, and you're looking at closer to 200 yards. Oh, and did I mention he's only a sophomore?
• Justin Lathon: This guy was a force of nature out there. It's a rarity to see a player contribute on both sides of the ball, and it's even rarer when that player is a defensive lineman. Justin left his mark all over the game on Friday. He notched a solo tackle, an assist, two quarterback hurries, and let's not forget that massive interception return for a touchdown. And just for fun, he decided to punch in a TD with a 6-yard run to put the cherry on top of the Bears' scoring for the night.

Week 7 Preview

Welcome to this week's matchup, folks, and it's shaping up to be a quick one. BHP is gearing up to face Palmetto this Friday night, and the atmosphere will be electric as BHP celebrates homecoming. The storyline here is simple: BHP is coming into this game with an unblemished record, while Palmetto stands at 2-4.

Palmetto's wins have been hard-fought victories against Travelers Rest, edging them out 20-19, and a dominating performance against Southside last week, finishing with an impressive 47-0 scoreline. However, Palmetto's losses have been less kind, with defeats to Woodmont (28-13), Seneca (40-0), an overtime heartbreaker against Walhalla (20-14), and a crushing loss to Pendleton (61-7).

Leading the charge for Palmetto is first-year coach Ryan Norton, who previously served as the offensive coordinator for Powdersville last season. Norton's game plan centers around establishing a potent ground game before taking to the airwaves. As it stands, Palmetto has averaged 256 total yards per game, with 141.5 yards coming from passing and 114.5 from rushing. The key for Palmetto is to get the running game going, and when they do, they tend to open up the passing lanes. Their wins clearly reflect this strategy, averaging an impressive 208 rushing yards per game. In their losses, they've struggled on the ground, managing just 67.5 rushing yards per game.

Switching gears to BHP, it's a straightforward task: execute. The Bears hold a clear advantage in terms of talent, and it's not even a close call. Expect BHP's offense to move the ball effectively and put points on the board early in this matchup. The ideal scenario for the Bears is to establish a comfortable lead, allowing the clock to run without pause in the second half.

On the defensive side, BHP must seize opportunities. Palmetto has coughed up the ball 11 times coming into this game, presenting a golden chance for BHP's defensive linemen to wreak havoc and their athletic defensive backs to hunt for interceptions.

Just as we've emphasized earlier this season, the focus for this week must be internal for the Bears. It's about refining their own game, playing to their own standards, and not getting caught up in the opponent's game plan. It's about the Bears being the best version of themselves, no matter who lines up across from them.

2022 Game Stats (Last Matchup)

Score: BHP 63 -- Palmetto 10

BHP Stats:

Team Rushing: 31 rushes for 292 yards and 4 TDs
Team Passing: 12/17/1 for 253 yards and 4 TDs
Team Total: 48 plays for 545 yards and 8 offensive TDs

Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 5 rushes for 128 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #7 AJ Pendleton - 10/15/1 for 231 yards and 4 TDs
Receiving Leader: #4 Eli Strickland - 5 catches for 131 yards and 3 TDs
Defensive Leader: #4 Eli Strickland - 4 Solo, 1 TFL, 3 Pass Breakups

Palmetto Stats:

Team Rushing: 24 rushes for 51 yards
Team Passing: 7/24/1 for 143 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 48 plays for 194 yards and 1 TD

Rushing Leader: #28 Zach Edwards - 12 rushes for 41 yards
Passing Leader: #5 Luke Dobbins - 7/24/1 for 143 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leaders: #6 Wyatt Winner - 3 catches for 85 yards and 1 TD

Quick Stats

• BHP is 49-7 all-time against Palmetto.
• Under Coach Blackston, BHP has never lost to Palmetto.
• In region play under Coach Blackston, BHP is 52-18.
• In BHP’s wins against Palmetto, they have averaged a winning margin of 20.5 points, while in their losses the average losing margin is 4.4 points.
• BHP has started a season 6-0 only 8 times ever but only once before the year 2000 (2023, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2006, 2004, 2000, 1987).
• BHP has outscored their opponents 52-7 in the last 4 minutes going into halftime this season.
• BHP has outscored their opponents by 120 points in the 2nd and 3rd quarters this season.
• BHP has gained 20 or more yards on 40 plays this season while allowing 20 or more yards on 23 plays.
• BHP’s Peter Bertoni has converted 38 straight PAT attempts this season, 3 attempts from tying the BHP season record of 41 and 11 away from the Career record 49.
• BHP is averaging 52 points per game for the season, the next highest season average at BHP was in 2012 at 41.7 points per game.
• BHP is averaging 28.5 points differential this season, there is only one season at BHP that had a larger differential (1999 - 29.1 points per game).
• BHP’s Noah Thomas has a 71.8% completion rate. The BHP season record is 68.4%.
• BHP has 20 more rushing TDs than they have allowed.
• BHP had 0 turnovers against Powdersville. Since 2014, BHP has had 28 games with 0 turnovers and in those games, BHP is 25-3.
• BHP’s Qua Alexander is 7 receptions from having the 5th most receptions in a season at BHP.

Wrap Up

The Bears are riding high after a monumental victory last week, undoubtedly the highlight of their season thus far. Now, they're gearing up to face their little brother Palmetto. As a dedicated Bears fan, I have a hunch that the Bear star players won't be on the field for the entirety of this game. Nevertheless, I can't help but be excited about the offensive fireworks that await us in the coming weeks.

Now, let's get one thing straight: I'm not trying to belittle Palmetto or make any outlandish predictions just to embarrass them. However, when I look at Palmetto's performances against teams that, in all honesty, don't even hold a candle to the Bears' prowess, I can't help but imagine a rather lopsided outcome in this upcoming clash.

Prediction: BHP 63 - Palmetto 10

The numbers might look staggering, but that's just a testament to the Bears' offensive firepower. I'm sure Palmetto will give it their all, but sometimes, in the world of football, there's just a wide gap between the big bears and the cubs.

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”