2023 Week 8 Bear Tracks

Bear fans, I've got to share an incident from last Friday with you. On my way home after the game, I might have been pushing the speed limit a bit, and sure enough, I got pulled over. The police officer strolled up to my window and asked why I was in such a hurry. I turned to him and quipped, "Sir, I just needed to know what it feels like to be Marquise Henderson."

Leaving my feeble attempt at humor aside, the Bears kept their momentum going strong as they completely dominated Palmetto last week. Let's break down how our Bears secured the win against the Mustangs before we dive into this week's matchup against Fountain Inn.

Right after the game on Friday, I found myself thinking that it might have been the Bears' least impressive performance this season. But, truth be told, my focus on the offensive side of things was clearly clouding my judgment. The defense, on the other hand, was an absolute force. Through the first three quarters, BHP allowed a mere 110 total yards, came up with two takeaways, and shut the door on any Mustangs' scoring attempts. To add to the brilliance, BHP set a school record by holding Palmetto to a jaw-dropping -26 total rushing yards, that’s right, negative 26 total rushing yards – a record-breaking feat in the history of BHP. And how could I forget to mention Tajeh Watson-Martin's spectacular 65-yard interception return for a pick-six?

Now, switching gears to the offensive side of the ball, our expectations are sky-high for this unit. Any other team would have celebrated their performance on Friday, but because we've witnessed the Bears dismantle opponents in the past, it felt like they were operating below their stratospheric standards. However, sometimes it's good to shake things up at this point in the season. I fully anticipate that we’ll see the Bears bounce back to their usual 400, 500, or even 600 total yards this week. After all, they still managed to put up six offensive touchdowns.

Finally, let's give a hearty shoutout to BHP's special teams, which had one of their best showings of the season. It all starts with Peter Bertoni, who nailed all seven PAT attempts (he's now the proud holder of the school record for most successful PAT attempts in a season). But his impact wasn't limited to extra points – Bertoni's kickoffs were a game-changer. Out of his ten kickoffs, he booted six of them into the endzone, etching his name in the BHP record books yet again. And joining Bertoni in the spotlight, Qua Alexander lit up the field with a 36-yard punt return.

There were countless highlights in our matchup against Palmetto, but there is always room for improvement (those penalties, cough cough). We all knew the Bears were the superior team heading into the game, and once that final whistle blew, the scoreboard confirmed it yet again. It's the 50th time in school history that BHP has emerged victorious over Palmetto. Here's to many more wins for Them Bears!

Shout Outs:

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

• Peter Bertoni - Let's kick things off with a record-breaking sensation. Peter shattered records, setting new highs for consecutive PATs in a season and touchbacks in a single game. Much like the offensive and defensive talent on our team, Peter is evolving into a true weapon.
• Norikus Cowan - When a cornerback starts making plays in the opponent's backfield, you can't help but give credit where it's due. Norikus was a force to be reckoned with, tallying three tackles for loss, four solo tackles, and a crucial pass breakup. His presence was undeniable, and I have a hunch this is the moment we'll look back on when he emerged as a major playmaker for the Bears.
• Keylan Dixon - Let's talk about the finer details of the game, the things that often go unnoticed in the heat of the moment. Keylan's ability to finish blocks and move as a big man is nothing short of exceptional. When he's on the move, he's agile and unyielding, bringing the weight and power to every block. Take, for instance, his key contributions to Henderson's 82-yard touchdown and virtually any Robbs rush in the second half – Keylan is one of the best.
• Eli Satterfield and Jamiah Galbreath - It's time to shine a spotlight on two unsung heroes. Eli Satterfield, starting H back, and Jamiah Galbreath, starting tight end, are often overshadowed, even more so than the offensive line. But their contributions are invaluable, especially when it comes to those lengthy runs. Watch closely, and you'll see that some of our most impressive plays owe a debt of gratitude to these two.

Week 8 Preview

BHP is stepping up to the plate with their undefeated record on the line, facing off against the Fountain Inn Fury. While this matchup might not carry the heavyweight intensity of some of the Bears' earlier clashes this season, rest assured that whenever BHP takes the field, it's an opportunity for these Bears to roar.

Fountain Inn only recently became a high school and just started its football program last season. Because of this, the Fury is only comprised of Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors. Nevertheless, they started their season with a bang, clinching their first-ever school victory in a commanding 28-0 triumph over West-Oak. They didn't stop there, adding another notch to their belt with a win against Carolina Academy in their fourth game this season. However, it hasn't all been smooth sailing for the Fury, as they've faced some tough losses, including setbacks of 44-6 against Woodruff, 33-13 against Crescent, 53-0 against Pendleton, 42-7 against Wren, and a 61-14 loss against Powdersville in their most recent outing.

As the Bears gear up for senior night, I'm hoping to see these seniors unleashed. While we've got a soft spot for seeing the Bears pound the rock, it would be fantastic to witness Noah Thomas reconnect with his two senior wideouts. The more passing and deep passing experience they can accumulate, the greater their chances of reaping rewards come playoff time. And let's not forget about Shaheem Robbs; here's to hoping he can run wild.

But the spotlight isn't solely on the offense. I'd absolutely love to witness the Bears' defense clamp down and potentially pitch a shutout against the Fury. This is the chance for the senior defensive players to flex their muscles and truly showcase their strength.

This is one of those games where we emphasize that the Bears need to play up to their own standards, not down to their opponents. BHP holds the advantage in every aspect of the game against Fountain Inn, and anything less than a convincing victory would raise eyebrows across the state, leaving folks wondering if the Bears are stumbling. Let's make sure that the roar echoes loud and clear on the field, signaling another dominant performance for BHP.

2022 Game Stats (Last Matchup)

Score: BHP 71 -- Fountain Inn 7

BHP Stats:

Team Rushing: 24 rushes for 370 yards and 7 TDs
Team Passing: 8/10/1 for 141 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 34 plays for 511 yards and 8 offensive TDs

Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 7 rushes for 162 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #7 AJ Pendleton - 6/8/1 for 124 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 1 catch for 77 yards and 1 TD
Defensive Leader: Dillon Gilbert - 24 defensive points, 1 assist, 1 solo, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery and 1 TD

Fountain Inn Stats:

Team Rushing: 21 rushes for 23 yards
Team Passing: 7/24/1 for 122 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 46 plays for 147 yards and 1 TD

Rushing Leader: #17 Cru Hall - 9 rushes for 28 yards
Passing Leader: #3 Jack Criswell - 7/24/1 for 122 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leaders: #1 Zach Madden - 1 catch for 69 yards and 1 TD

Quick Stats

• BHP is 1-0 against Fountain Inn all-time.
• BHP is 1 of only 5 SC 3A teams to be undefeated this season.
• BHP has scored the most points in SC 3A this season.
• BHP is one of 5 SC 3A teams to have outscored their opponents by 200 or more points this season.
• There have only been 4 teams in BHP history to start a season 8-0.
• BHP’s defense set a school record for the least rushing yards allowed in a game with the -26 rushing yards against Palmetto.
• Peter Bertoni has set the consecutive PATs made in a season record - he currently has 45 straight.
• Peter Bertoni had 6 Kickoff Touchbacks last week which sets a school record, and before Friday no BHP kicker had more than 4.
• BHP had 11 tackles for loss against Palmetto. Only happened once since 2014 where they had 10 or more in a game (2019 vs Seneca).
• The 351 total yards against Palmetto was the first time this season BHP had not gained over 425 total yards in a game.
• BHP has scored at least 5 rushing and 1 passing TD in every game this season except against Westside.
• BHP has forced a turnover in every game this season.
• In the second quarter of games this season, BHP has averaged 12.24 yards per play.
• BHP has rushed for 30 or more yards 18 times this season but only gave up 2 rushes of that length.
• BHP is 11 for 15 on 4th down tries, all 11 conversions have come on a rush from Henderson, Robbs, or Lathon.

Wrap Up

The Bears are gearing up to host Fountain Inn in their final home game of the regular season. As BHP takes the field, they've got their sights set on keeping that undefeated streak alive, and honestly, I can't find a single reason why they shouldn't. My editor's got me on a tight leash when it comes to making predictions, so I'm nearly maxing out my confidence level on this one.

Prediction: BHP 63 - Fountain Inn 7

Bear fans, make sure to come out and be loud for the Bears Friday night. It will be the last home game of the regular season and senior night.

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”