October is for pretenders and November is for contenders, but December is for Champions!
The cold has rolled into South Carolina, a chill that bites at the edges of ambition and hope. But let me tell you, no frost or freeze could dampen the fire that burns in Them Bears. In fact, last Friday night, that fire erupted into a blaze so fierce it scorched its way into BHP history, delivering BHP to its fourth Upper State Championship game ever—a feat steeped in sweat, grit, and the kind of unrelenting determination that doesn't shiver in the face of cold or doubt.
Let’s set the scene: BHP hosting a fellow Anderson County contender, Powdersville, a team hotter than a jalapeño in July. Winners of their last nine games, the Patriots strutted onto the field with the confidence of a heavyweight champ—and they showed why right out of the gate. Their opening drive was a masterclass in efficiency: 70 yards in eight plays, just under two minutes on the clock. Boom. On third-and-five, Keagan Reid found Bennett Brooks for a 54-yard touchdown, and the Patriots let everyone know they were here to play.
But BHP? They’re a team built for the grind. They responded with a methodical, clock-draining 62-yard drive over 16 plays, chewing up nearly six minutes before punching it in for six points. A missed PAT sparked some nervous murmurs in the stands, but on the sideline? Ice in their veins. The Bears forced a three-and-out on Powdersville’s next possession, then orchestrated another 62-yard, six-minute drive to take the lead. The Patriots, true to their name, weren’t going down easy. They fired back with a 15-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead just before halftime.
For the first time since their clash with Westside, the Bears found themselves trailing at the break. The doubters began to whisper: Could this team handle adversity? Could they take a punch and still fight back?
Spoiler alert: They could.
The third quarter was a gut check, and BHP passed with flying colors. With just over five minutes left in the quarter, the Bears embarked on an 81-yard, 12-play scoring drive that screamed, “We’re not done yet.” Then, just 60 seconds later, Jakyri Anderson decided to make his own highlight reel, snatching an interception and racing it back to the house. Two touchdowns in less than a minute. The stadium erupted.
From there, the Bears' defense took control, squeezing the life out of Powdersville’s offense like a boa constrictor. And with under two minutes left, Marquise Henderson put an exclamation point on the night, picking off another pass and taking it 52 yards to seal the deal.
By the time the final whistle blew, the Bears had answered every question thrown their way: Could they handle a full four-quarter fight? Could Marquise shoulder a heavier load? Could this team put everything on the line and still come out on top? The answer, every single time, was a resounding yes.
Before we move on to the next chapter, let’s tip the cap to Justin Lathon, a one-man wrecking crew on Friday night. Five sacks. Two hurries. One forced fumble. A new school record for sacks in a game. He didn’t just dominate—he owned the game. Powdersville’s quarterback spent more time looking over his shoulder for Lathon than scanning the field for open receivers. It was a career-defining performance in a moment that mattered most.
Now, the Bears have their sights set on the only undefeated team left in 3A. The stakes are high, and the challenge is massive—but so is the opportunity. And if you ask me? The Upper State title is coming home to Belton-Honea Path.
Because here’s the thing about Them Bears: the cold doesn’t slow them down. It only makes their fire burn brighter.
For just the third time in school history—and the second time in as many seasons—BHP finds itself suiting up for a 14th game with an Upper State Championship on the line. On Friday night, the Bears will square off against Mountain View Prep (we’ll call them MVP from here on out) in a #1 vs. #2 heavyweight battle to decide who punches their ticket to Orangeburg and a shot at eternal glory in the form of a state title.
MVP enters the fray with a flawless 12-0 record, boasting wins over Atlantic Collegiate Academy, Southside Christian, St. Joesph’s, Crescent x2, Asheville School, Chapman, Woodruff, Broome, Union County, Carolina Academy, and Walhalla. They’ve steamrolled their way through opponents, averaging 44.5 points per game while giving up just 14.75. BHP, not to be outdone, has mirrored those numbers with an average of 43.4 points scored and only 14.2 allowed. It’s almost eerie how evenly matched these two juggernauts are.
But there’s a twist. This is MVP’s first season. Yes, you read that right—their first. A fledgling prep school built for athletic excellence, MVP assembled a roster of student-athletes from across the region, giving them a shiny, new platform to showcase their talents. While opinions on this model’s validity in competitive athletics swirl like leaves in a fall breeze, here’s the bottom line: Friday night is just about football, plain and simple. And it’s shaping up to be one of the most significant games in BHP’s history.
On paper, these teams are nearly mirror images of each other. Both are powered by a “Big Three” on offense—a trio of stars at running back, quarterback, and wide receiver. For MVP, Jaylen McGill is the workhorse in the backfield—a junior with more accolades than almost any running back in the state. McGill racked up over 2,600 rushing yards and 47 touchdowns during his time at Broome before transferring to MVP. This year? Just another 1,658 yards and 24 touchdowns to add to the résumé. He’s already fielding offers from 25 Division I programs, and he’s only a junior.
Then there’s quarterback Bryson Drummond, a transfer from Greenville High who’s thrown for over 2,000 yards and 26 touchdowns this season while completing an eye-popping 68% of his passes. His top target? Kadarius Hainsworth, who came over from Dorman and has transformed into an unstoppable force, tallying 947 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Together, these three form a hydra of offensive firepower.
BHP’s own trio may not have the same size on paper—McGill outweighs Marquise Henderson by 15 pounds, and Drummond’s got nearly 20 pounds on BHP’s Thomas—but the Bears more than make up for it in grit and sheer physicality. MVP’s spread offense relies on outmanning the defense via formations and explosive plays.
If you thought MVP’s offense was imposing, their defense might be even more intimidating. Anchored by Quay McCauley and Shannon Whiteside, who bring both size and speed off the edge, MVP’s front seven is as nasty as they come. McCauley’s stat line—55 tackles, 17 for loss, and 11 sacks—speaks for itself. Whiteside adds another layer of menace with his ability to both stop the run and pressure the quarterback. And then there’s Eniale Wilson, a lineman so large and athletic that he might as well be a human eclipse.
Their scheme? A hybrid 5-2 defense with a single high safety, designed to stifle the run while still pressuring the quarterback. Against a run-heavy team like BHP, it’s a matchup tailor-made to test the Bears’ resolve.
For BHP to emerge victorious, they’ll need to lean into their identity: fast starts, relentless defense, and a level of physicality that MVP simply hasn’t experienced. The Bears have scored an absurd 68% of their points in the first half this season, outscoring opponents 386-109 in the opening quarters. Jumping out to an early lead allows their defense to dictate terms, forcing MVP to play catch-up—a situation they’re less comfortable in.
The second-half shutdown of Powdersville last week—113 total yards allowed, six sacks—was a blueprint for success. If BHP’s defensive line can control the trenches and force Drummond into uncomfortable situations, the Bears will have the upper hand. This game won’t just be won on the scoreboard; it’ll be won in the trenches, in the collisions, and in the cumulative toll of four quarters. BHP must bring a level of physicality that leaves MVP questioning whether they want to keep getting up.
This is it—a chance for only the second Upper State Championship in BHP’s history. Last year’s heartbreaking near-miss has only steeled the resolve of this team, this town, and this community. When the Bears take the field on Friday night, they’ll be backed by a sea of fans from Belton and Honea Path, all believing that this is the year history changes. And for us? We get to watch it unfold, one snap, one hit, and one incredible moment at a time.
Score: BHP 23 -- Daniel 28
2023 Upper State Championship BHP vs Daniel Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 44 rushes for 242 yards and 3 TDs
Team Passing: 5/9/0 for 42 yards
Team Total: 53 plays for 284 yards and 3 TDs
Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 30 rushes for 221 yards and 3 TDs
Passing Leader: #7 Noah Thomas - 5/9/0 for 42 yards
Receiving Leader: #6 Qua Alexander - 4 receptions for 26 yards
Defensive Leader: #2 Omari Jackson - 4 hurries, 1 TFL, 1 Sack, 1 forced fb, 1 fb recovery, and 30 defensive points
2023 Upperstate Championship Daniel vs BHP Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 29 rushes for 164 yards and 4 TDs
TTeam Rushing: 37 rushes for 167 yards and 3 TDs
Team Passing: 16/26/1 for 128 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 63 plays for 295 yards and 4 TDs
Rushing Leader: #14 Kolton Chapman - 14 rushes for 84 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #14 Kolton Chapman - 16/26/1 for 128 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leaders: #2 Sam Earle - 5 receptions for 48 yards
This week, we connected with Dalton McClain, the man behind the surging success of BHP’s wide receivers. If you’ve been watching the Bears light up the scoreboard, you’ve seen his fingerprints all over those big plays. McClain’s squad isn’t just catching passes—they’re redefining what’s possible for this offense. In our chat, Coach McClain offered a glimpse into how his group is not just stepping up but stepping into a whole new level of impact. So, let’s dive into Three Bear Questions for Coach McClain and discover what makes this unit tick.
Q: BHP has long been known for its ground-and-pound approach, but explosive plays often stem from the unsung heroes: the wide receivers and their downfield blocking. Can you elaborate on how this group of receivers contributes to the run game's success and what makes them excel in that role?
Coach McClain's Answer:
We totally embrace the ground-and-pound approach to our offense, it’s our identity and we know as a group if the ground game is going the way it’s supposed to, there will be chances for us to make big plays through the air. Our motto is “if you don’t block, you don’t play” and they take pride in it, so I think that’s why you see the effort blocks that spring those big gains into touchdowns.
Q: The BHP wideouts have added an explosive dimension to the offense in recent seasons, and this year they’ve taken it to another level. What sets this core group of Tajeh Watson-Martin, Ty Parnell, James Moore, and Ryan Lee apart, and how have they elevated the passing attack to complement the team’s signature running game?
Coach McClain's Answer:
They all bring a little something different to the table, Ty Parnell brings toughness and leadership to the group. He’s always willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done. James Moore is our possession guy, he just has a knack for getting open. He understands what makes him successful and he goes out and executes. Ryan Lee has a ton of talent. He is a mix of speed and route running, he makes us that much better because you have to respect his ability to get behind you as well him getting open on our intermediate stuff. Tajeh Watson-Martin is lighting in a bottle. He can do it all. It’s our job as coaches to get him the ball any way we can and I would say we’ve been able to be successful doing that. I would definitely say that all that put together makes teams have to respect our ability to throw the football.
Q: Tajeh Watson-Martin is emerging as an absolute star, consistently creating big plays—whether it’s outrunning defenders on deep passes or turning short screens into long touchdowns. With the last 1,000+ receiving season for a Bear dating back to 2012, what unique challenges and opportunities does Tajeh’s skillset provide for your offense and can Tajeh be that next 1,000-yard Bear receiver?
Coach McClain's Answer:
As I said earlier, Tajeh is electric, it’s just a matter of getting the ball in his hands. His speed is what makes him go, but he also has the quickness to make people miss in space. To me what sets him apart is his character, attention to detail, and his preparation. The kid attacks every day and understands what it takes to be great. He and Noah Thomas have developed an incredible relationship and it’s paying off with incredible plays on Friday nights. This is no surprise to me or anybody in our program because we know what Tajeh is made of, I 100% think if the season continues he could surpass the 1000-yard mark.
Thank you, Coach McClain, for shedding light on a position group that rarely basks in the BHP spotlight yet has quietly laid the groundwork for something extraordinary. With their steady progress and a rising star poised to make waves, it’s not hard to imagine BHP evolving into the "Air Bear."
Bear fans, let me cut to the chase—this isn’t some run-of-the-mill Friday night under the lights. This game, this week, this moment, is the biggest showdown these Bears have seen in two decades. Two. Decades. Let that sink in. For the entire lifetime of the players on this team—every snap they’ve played, every whistle they’ve heard—there hasn’t been a stage this monumental. And for those of us still nursing the sting of last season, this isn’t just about winning an Upper State Championship. No, this is about redemption. It’s about setting right what slipped away.
Now, I know we’re hitting the road on Friday, packing up the buses and rolling into Simpsonville. But let me tell you something: when Them Bear Fans roll in, it’s not going to feel like an away game. I’m counting on BHP to turn that stadium into Bear Country, loud and proud, outnumbering MVP fans two, maybe even three to one. That’s what this team needs—a community united, shoulder to shoulder, roaring in unison for one more fight.
And here’s the best part: these Big Bad Bears aren’t going to let you down. Not this week. Not on this stage. So buckle up, folks. BHP takes this one home, and let me tell you—next week? Next week is going to be a whole new level of electricity. Stay tuned, Bear fans. The best is yet to come.
Prediction: BHP 35 - Mountain View Prep 24
We want to see all of you Bear fans at Hillcrest High School to support the Bears this Friday. But if you can't, don't forget to follow us on Facebook and X. Stay in the loop. Because Friday, we will be dropping the GameDay Graphic and will be live Tweeting stats and highlights during the game.
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