2024 Week 10 Bear Tracks

Imagine the Bears barreling down the highway for their last regular season road trip, loaded up with enough momentum to level any opponent standing in their way. It wasn’t just a game; it was an exclamation point, a statement. The Pendleton Bulldogs didn’t just lose—they were dismantled. And with that, a region championship showdown is set for Friday night at BHP, with the Walhalla Razorbacks in the crosshairs.

So, what exactly happened last Friday? Pure, unfiltered domination, the kind that reminds you why you love football. By halftime, BHP was putting on a clinic, and the scoreline looked more like the final stats than a halftime update. Offensively, they were nearly flawless: 390 total yards split into a punishing 246 on the ground and a sharp 144 through the air. And Noah Thomas? A perfect 9-for-9 passing. Not a single throw was missed. On the other side of the ball, the Bears were just plain rude, forcing Pendleton into the red—negative 12 rushing yards, to be precise. The Bulldogs' entire offense squeaked out just 41 yards passing, with 26 of those coming in a single play.

But the beauty of it all? This wasn’t just a couple of stars putting on a show. This was a full-ensemble performance. Seven Bears took turns running the ball, with four of them averaging over 10 yards a carry, eight different receivers got a piece of the action, and five different players hit pay dirt. Defensively, they were a nightmare to deal with—15 Bears contributed at least one tackle, racking up five sacks, five tackles-for-loss, and six quarterback hurries. Pendleton’s offense didn’t have a second to breathe.

I’ve been saying it all season, but this Bears team is something special, a #1 in 3A who’s flying under the radar, despite every sign flashing that they’re the real deal. It’s like watching echoes of the powerhouse 2004 Bears, with opposing coaches leaving the field muttering like they’ve seen ghosts.

And here’s the kicker: even with this 48-0 halftime lead, and only two BHP drives in the second half, they still have more gears to shift into. Imagine what a full, unrelenting four-quarter game could look like from this squad. This Friday night, with a championship on the line, there’s only one question: can they raise the bar even higher? I wouldn’t bet against it.



Week 10 Preview



The stakes are high, and the lights are a bit brighter this week for the Bears. Championship Week has finally arrived, and the Walhalla Razorbacks are headed into town to wrap up BHP’s regular season.

Now, Walhalla hasn’t exactly had a smooth ride to this showdown. They’re sitting at 5-3 on the year, a respectable 2-0 in region play, with a makeup game against Crescent waiting next week. They came out of the gate hot, handling Landrum 20-14 and steamrolling Pickens 49-16. But then the road got bumpy. Three straight losses – Chesnee 25-13, Seneca 24-7, and an almost absurd 60-41 to Liberty. But something clicked when region play started. Suddenly, they looked like a different team, finding their mojo again with a 20-7 win over Pendleton, a non-region stomping of Berea 49-7, and a 62-0 obliteration of West-Oak. Those wins set the stage for a regional title showdown against BHP.

Here’s what we know about the Razorbacks: they are relentless on the ground, and they’ll push as far as their “hogs” on the offensive line can plow the way. They’ve rushed for over 2,000 yards this season, averaging nearly six yards a carry with 24 touchdowns on the ground. The charge is led by Landon Robinson, a powerhouse senior who’s hammered out 1,460 yards and 18 touchdowns on 231 carries. Not far behind, quarterback Jack Williams has a modest but effective aerial game with 814 yards and 8 touchdowns, hitting targets like Silas Parish and Witt Austin. They’re a ground-and-pound offense, and they’re relentless at sticking to what works.

But defense – that’s Walhalla’s pride. And Silas Parish, their defensive commander, makes it clear why. Parish is a wrecking ball on two legs, with 86 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, and four hurries this season. Last year? He racked up 162 tackles, 12 for loss, and had an uncanny knack for forcing fumbles. Oconee County has a serious talent in this guy.

As for the Bears? This season has been about one thing: being the best BHP can be, period. Last Friday, they proved they don’t mess around, never dipping down to their opponents’ level or drifting into bad habits. This week, however, brings a unique challenge—a team aiming to shove the ball down BHP’s throat. And if that’s their game plan, well, I say bring it on. The Bears’ defense is practically built to shut down a run-heavy attack like Walhalla’s. Kylan Dixon and Kamarion Glenn are the anchors on the line, a force that 3A teams just haven’t been able to handle. The edge rushers, the linebacker unit, and even pressure from the secondary bring a defensive mix that’s snuffed out drives and forced negative plays like it’s routine. In the last two games alone, BHP has forced 23 plays behind the line of scrimmage—that’s a whopping 26% of total plays, and nearly half of them if you count incompletions.

Then there’s BHP’s offense, which is finally hitting a stride that’s almost unfair. Last week’s game was a masterpiece of complementary football. Marquise Henderson dropped jaws with an 8-carry, 171-yard performance. Noah Thomas went surgical, 9 for 9 passing for 144 yards and 4 touchdowns by halftime. And keep an eye on rising star Tajeh Watson-Martin, who’s showing explosive play potential, racking up 85 yards and 2 touchdowns on just two catches. This offense is a freight train, and any team on the schedule knows they’re facing something unstoppable.

This is it: the week for the region title. Last week, BHP put the whole picture together, but now, it’s about pushing past even that high mark. Can they beat their best? I’d wager yes. They’re only beginning to show what they’re capable of, and this title game feels like a small taste of what lies ahead.



Previous Matchup: 2023 Week 5



Score: BHP 63 -- Walhalla 35

2023 BHP vs Walhalla Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 39 rushes for 325 yards and 5 TDs
Team Passing: 15/19/0 for 267 yards and 4 TDs
Team Total: 58 plays for 592 yards and 9 TDs

Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 8 carries for 160 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #7 Noah Thomas - 15/19/0 for 267 yards and 4 TDs
Receiving Leader: #6 Qua Alexander - 7 receptions for 159 yards and 2 TDs
Defensive Leader: #18 Tye Kelly - 1 Solo, 6 Assist, 2 Hurries, and a Pass Break-up

2023 Walhalla vs BHP Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 41 rushes for 96 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 13/27/0 for 250 yards and 3 TDs
Team Total: 68 plays for 346 yards and 5 TDs

Rushing Leader: #4 Landon Robinson - 30 carries for 76 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #12 Tanner Lowery - 13/27/0 for 250 yards and 3 TDs
Receiving Leaders: #1 Drake Easton - 4 receptions for 108 yards and 1 TD



Quick Stats





Bear Talk



This week, I connected with Jared Jennings, BHP’s defensive coordinator and assistant head coach. Let’s just say Coach Jennings has a knack for turning raw energy into an art form on the field. It’s not just this season—his entire tenure at BHP has been a masterclass in defensive strategy. But this year? This Bear Defense isn’t just good; it’s the kind of defense that gives offensive coordinators nightmares.

I wanted to know what makes this year’s Bear Defense tick, so I went straight to the source. Below are three questions I threw his way, along with a few gems that capture the core of what’s making this defense so relentless this season.

Q: Many people view defense as simply “see ball, hit ball,” but the more I study it, the more complex it becomes or it is just magic. What key principles or techniques do you emphasize with your defense that have consistently led to success under your leadership? How do you utilize the elite talent you have on defense this season?

Coach Jennings' Answer:
We preach to our kids every day in practice and the games about playing FAST and getting to the football. We chart effort in our game tape and during practice daily. If you can’t run to the ball, you can’t play defense here. By running to the ball we feel like we will be able to create more turnovers and create big plays on defense to get the ball back to our offense. We are very fortunate to have some talented players in all three levels of our defense. We try to use what our kids do well to our advantage. Heard a coach a long time ago say, think players and not plays. We try to think about our kids and what they do best and then come up with a game plan that our kids can do and execute at a high level.

Q: You were one of the best linebackers in BHP history, and it’s clear that you’ve successfully passed on that knowledge to the linebackers you now coach. This position group has been incredibly reliable and consistently performs at a high level. How does this current group compare to those outstanding linebacker groups you've coached in the past, is there anything that makes this group special?

Coach Jennings' Answer:
I have been blessed in my playing and coaching career here at BHP to play with and coach some great players at LB. I also remember watching Jeremiah Garrison, Ronell Harper, and many other greats when I was a kid. BHP has always been known for having good Linebackers and we try to keep that going. This current group are all outstanding kids and show up everyday to get 1% better. They are athletic and can play multiple positions on our defense depending on the game plan that week. The leader of the group and one of our permanent Team Captains is Tye Kelly. He communicates the calls and checks to make sure we are in the look we wanna be in. This group has also played in a lot of football games now, so that always helps too.

Q: Last spring, you led BHP to a state softball championship, which is an incredible achievement. I won’t ask you to choose between a football or another softball title, however, what lessons or experiences from that championship run with the softball team do you feel can help guide the football team as you prepare for the playoffs? How do you plan to carry those lessons into this postseason?

Coach Jennings' Answer:
The State Championship run with the softball team taught me valuable lessons about teamwork, resilience, and preparation. Every day we showed up and prepared for pressure situations by constantly practicing them and trying to perfect them as a team. One of our main goals was our mindset and always finding a way to be positive in tough situations.

For the football team, I plan to try to help our kids prepare and put them in as many situations as possible in practice, that way we have a chance to make a play in games when those situations arise. We also have to continue to work to get better individually and as a team to hopefully get hot and play our best football from this point forward. Every Week is a Championship week, so we have to prepare daily with a win or go home mentality.

 


I want to extend a big thanks to Coach Jennings—not just for taking the time to answer my questions but for giving Bear fans a behind-the-scenes look at what makes this team tick. It’s rare to find someone who’s as generous with his time as he is skilled on the field just as this whole BHP staff is.



Quick Note



Last week, my family felt a wave of kindness that was hard to describe. My grandfather—my dad’s dad—passed away last Thursday, and throughout the week, we were lifted by the generosity of people who reached out with condolences. So many of you stopped us in the stands, caught us on the way to and from the game, and reached out online. It was as if the entire BHP community held us up. From both my dad and me, we thank you deeply. BHP isn’t just a school or a team—it’s family, and you showed us that in the most heartfelt way.



Wrap Up



Now, shifting gears to this week. It’s big. The Bears have their sights set on one goal: the region championship. The stakes are up, engines are revving, and the atmosphere’s crackling with energy. For BHP, this isn’t just about a title; it’s about history. Another win means the first back-to-back region championship since 2006—a chance for this team to cement itself as something truly special. So Bear Fans, grab your seats early. Get loud. Cheer for every yard and every tackle. From the Bear Walk to the Bear Rumble, the night’s shaping up to be a classic—an all-out BHP blockbuster, and you’ll want front-row seats to every moment.

Prediction: BHP 49 - Wahalla 13

We want to see all of you Bear fans at Palmetto 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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