2025 Week 1 Bear Tracks

"I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin." - Neo, The Matrix

Bear Fans, this is the moment we've all been circling on our calendars for nearly a year. Week 1 has finally descended upon us with all the force and anticipation of a summer thunderstorm rolling across the Carolina landscape, and you can practically feel the raw energy crackling through the air as we stand ready to discover exactly what kind of fire burns inside this Bear squad.

Last season painted a picture of near-perfection, with BHP carving out a spectacular 13-2 record that carried them all the way to the doorstep of glory before falling just short against Oceanside Collegiate in the State Championship. That team said goodbye to a graduating class that reads like a who's who of Bear legends. Maquise Henderson didn't just leave his mark on the program - he rewrote the record books entirely, claiming over 15 BHP records as his own. The talent exodus stretched across every position group, from Oliver Marett earning 3A Upper State Lineman of the Year honors to Christian Bridwell capturing Special Teams Player of the Year recognition. Add in three 3A All-State performers in Justin Lathon, Tye Kelly, and Eli Satterfield, and you're looking at 25 seniors who took a lifetime of Bear football memories with them. That's the narrative most folks are clinging to when they size up this year's squad.

But here's what they're missing - every season brings rebirth, fresh leadership, new questions begging for answers, and most importantly, untested talent ready to announce their arrival. Another wave of premier athletes is standing in the wings, chomping at the bit to etch their names into Bear history.

The moment has arrived, Bear Fans. Week 1 is staring us down, and it's time to unleash them Big Bears and let them eat.

Week 1 Preview

This season’s journey begins on foreign soil as the Bears pack their gear for Spartanburg County, where they'll square off against the Broome Centurions in what promises to be an intriguing season opener.

Broome's 2024 campaign was a grinding affair, resulting in a disappointing 3-8 record with victories coming only against Chesnee, Emerald, and Blacksburg. Despite the struggles, the Centurions discovered a pair of offensive gems that kept things interesting. Current senior running back, Tyqwon Booker, emerged as their workhorse, bulldozing his way to 1,305 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Operating behind center was Jameson Dearybury, who managed the offense with precision, completing 174 passes for 2,041 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Here's where things get fascinating - Broome has completely reimagined their offensive identity by moving their most explosive playmaker, Booker, from the backfield to the outside. The social media highlights tell the story perfectly: they're treating wideout screens like an extension of their ground game while utilizing intermediate routes to help Dearybury methodically move the chains. This strategic shift positions Reece Waugerman as their new featured back, making the opposite transition from receiver to running back that Booker is undertaking.

Defensively, Broome faces a massive rebuilding project after graduating four of their top five tacklers from last season. Their pass rush was virtually nonexistent in 2024, managing just 8 team sacks and 29 tackles for loss while picking off only a handful of passes all year. Interestingly enough, they managed to hold BHP to 205 rushing yards and 128 passing yards in last year's meeting, though BHP had already built a commanding 35-7 halftime lead that rendered those numbers somewhat meaningless.

From the Bear perspective, anticipation is building around how this offense will evolve without some of those explosive one-play touchdowns we've grown accustomed to over recent years. It's time for these new offensive weapons to step into the spotlight and make their presence felt. Defensively, complete domination should be the expectation. I'm genuinely excited to see what kind of havoc BHP’s front seven can create this Friday night. The matchup everyone will be dissecting is whether Tajeh Watson-Martin finds himself isolated in single coverage against Tyqwon Booker in those crucial moments.

Season openers carry their own unique brand of unpredictability, and playing on the road only amplifies that uncertainty. Strange things have a way of happening when teams are still working out their early-season kinks. But here's what I know for certain. Despite some state reporters and online analysts questioning this Bear team's potential, this squad is going to have plenty to say once they take the field. This first week represents just the first steps of what could be a remarkable journey back to championship contention.

Previous Matchup: 2024 Week 1

Score: BHP 45 -- Broome 14

2024 Week 1 BHP Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 26 rushes for 200 yards and 4 TDs
Team Passing: 9/13/0 for 128 yards and 1 TD
Team Total: 39 plays for 328 yards and 5 offensive TDs

Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 3 rushes for 86 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #7 Noah Thomas - 9/13/0 for 128 yards and 1 TD
Receiving Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 4 receptions for 95 yards and 1 TD
Defensive Leader: #18 Tye Kelly - 7 Total Tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 Sack

2023 Week 1 Broome Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 35 rushes for 110 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 12/25/1 for 172 yards
Team Total: 60 plays for 282 and 2 TDs

Rushing Leader: #21 Tyqwon Booker - 24 rushes for 115 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #5 Jameson Dearybury - 11/24/1 for 128 yards
Receiving Leaders: #7 Reece Waugerman - 3 receptions for 57 yards

Quick Stats

• BHP is 2-1 all-time against Broome (2024 -- 45-14, 2013 -- 42-12, 2002 -- 15-29).
• BHP is 40-19 in season-opening games all-time, and 14-1 under Coach Blackston in those games.
• Under Coach Blackston, BHP is 54-28 in road games.
• BHP has never had 4 consecutive seasons with 10 or more wins.
• BHP graduated 68% of their rushing yard and touchdowns, and 45% of their receiving yards from last season.
• BHP graduated 43.8% of their total defensive points from last season.
• Last season, Broome ran the most plays and scored the most rushing TDs against BHP (60 plays and 2 rushing TDs - Palmetto and Crescent also had 2 rushing TDs).
• Last season, BHP only allowed 2 offensive TDs in the 3rd quarters of games - 2 passing and 0 rushing.
• Last season, BHP averaged 9.1 yards per play on first down.
• Noah Thomas currently holds the school record for most TD passes in a career.
• Noah Thomas currently has the 5th most career passing yards at BHP.
• Kylan Dixon currently co-owns the school record for most tackles for loss in a game with 4; he has done that twice.
• BHP has scored in 135 consecutive games, a school record, and is still counting.
• BHP is 36-5 over the last three seasons and 28-2 in the regular season in that timeframe.
• BHP has only had 1 undefeated championship season in its history.

Wrap Up

As we stand on the precipice of another BHP football season, there's something beautifully poetic about beginning this journey on the road, away from the comfort of home crowds and familiar surroundings. Sometimes the best stories start with a little adversity, a touch of uncertainty, and a hungry group of young athletes determined to prove that last year's magic wasn't the peak but the standard. Broome might be hunting for a breakthrough after their difficult 2024 season, but they're about to discover that this Bear squad has only grown hungrier and more dangerous just waiting for a chance at redemption.


Prediction: BHP 45 - Broome 10

We want to see all of you Bear fans at Broome to support the Bears this Friday. Be sure to stay up to date and get notified when our posts are out by following us on Facebook and X. And this season we have something special. Make sure to subscribe to The Bear Rumble Podcast to hear me and some special guests talk all things BHP football. Stay in the loop. Because Friday, we will be dropping the GameDay Graphic and will be live Tweeting stats and highlights during the game.