2025 Week 2 Bear Tracks

The Bears weren't waiting for anyone last Friday night, and that was crystal clear from the opening snap. I-85 backed up like a parking lot, Bear faithful still streaming through the gates, and by the time most folks found their seats, BHP had already lit up the scoreboard four times in the opening quarter. Traffic might have crawled, but these Bears? They hit fifth gear from the moment they touched the field.

This season opener took BHP on a journey, nearly ninety minutes north into Spartanburg County to tangle with the Broome Centurions. Coming off one of the greatest seasons in program history, BHP carried expectations as heavy as the August humidity. Meanwhile, Broome was looking to shake off the sting of a brutal 3-8 season that left more questions than answers. By halftime, though, the crystal ball couldn't have been clearer about which direction both programs were heading.

The evening's drama unfolded with Broome taking the opening kickoff, methodically grinding out a couple of first downs before reality set in hard on a failed fourth-and-two attempt. That's when the Bears took possession and reminded everyone in attendance exactly why every play is must-see. MJ Earle took a perfectly executed pop-pass jet sweep and turned it into 55 yards of pure poetry, finding the end zone on BHP's very first offensive snap of the 2025 campaign.

What followed was nothing short of surgical precision mixed with explosive artistry. In that opening quarter, BHP ran exactly eight offensive plays, and four of them resulted in six points on the scoreboard. Even more impressive, three of those touchdown strikes covered 39 yards or more, showcasing the kind of big-play capability that separates championship contenders from pretenders. The Bears added two more scores in the second quarter, building a commanding 41-7 halftime advantage that had even the most optimistic Centurion supporters reaching for their car keys.

The offensive fireworks grabbed the headlines, but the defensive performance deserves equal billing in this story. BHP's defense held Broome to a measly 2.81 yards per rushing attempt, completely suffocated their third down conversions at a brutal 1 for 10 clip, and surrendered just that lone touchdown all evening long. Here's what makes it even more remarkable: despite Broome controlling the clock for over 30 minutes compared to BHP's 17 and change, the Bears' defense was so dominant that they held Broome to only 7 offensive points all night.

The stars aligned beautifully for BHP when the lights burned brightest. Noah Thomas orchestrated the aerial attack with surgical precision, completing passes for 217 yards and three touchdowns while adding another score with his legs. The receiving corps spread the wealth across five different targets, with MJ Earle, Tajeh Watson-Martin, and Jakyri Anderson each finding the end zone through the air. Perhaps most telling about this team's depth, ten different Bears carried the football during the course of the evening, showcasing the kind of roster balance that championship teams lean on during long seasons.

Defensively, Ty Dubose and KJ Miles put on a clinic that had fans taking note. Dubose terrorized the Broome backfield with six total tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble that changed field position at a crucial moment. Miles was even more disruptive, racking up 10 total tackles while forcing a fumble of his own and scooping up another loose ball for a 58-yard house call after the safety free kick. As a unit, the defense finished the night with five tackles for loss, three sacks, and two takeaways that kept the Broome offense puzzled.

Last Friday night, BHP showed exactly what they needed to display, not through perfection, but by answering the questions that had followed them into the season. Sure, there are areas for improvement, but sitting at 1-0 feels absolutely perfect right about now.



Week 2 Preview



With that lengthy journey to Spartanburg County now filed away in the win column, the Bears can shift their complete attention to welcoming the Greer Yellow Jackets to town. This matchup carries extra voltage because it marks BHP's home opener under the Friday night lights, and Bear Nation has been counting down the days.

While BHP was dismantling Broome on the road, Greer hosted Boiling Springs in their season opener but came up on the wrong side of a 23-18 heartbreaker that told a story of two completely different halves. Boiling Springs jumped out to a commanding 23-0 halftime lead that had most folks ready to call it a night, but Greer showed the kind of heart that defines historic programs by clawing all the way back to within five points. The Yellow Jackets even recovered an onside kick with a chance to complete one of the season's early comeback stories, but they came up just inches short of the miracle finish.

This Greer program knows how to bounce back from adversity, having proven it just last season when they transformed an 0-3 start into a remarkable turnaround. The Yellow Jackets rattled off five consecutive victories and won seven of their final nine games, with their only losses during that stretch coming against powerhouse programs Daniel and South Pointe. However, graduation hit this roster like a sledgehammer, taking 18 players from that successful squad.

The numbers tell a sobering story about what Greer lost. Only one rusher returns from last year's team who managed over 100 yards on the ground, while four of their top five ball carriers either graduated or transferred to other programs. Add in the departure of their starting quarterback and top receiving targets, and you're looking at a program essentially starting from scratch with new faces in every skill position.

But don't sleep on what those new faces showed during that second-half rally against Boiling Springs. Sophomore quarterback Dawson Fowler led the team in rushing with 14 carries for 59 yards while completing 16 passes for 187 yards through the air. The young signal caller showed poise by connecting with four different receivers at least three times each, with Tucker Hudson leading the receiving corps with five catches for 83 yards.

For BHP's defense, opportunity is knocking loudly on the door. Fowler threw three interceptions in that opener, and with the kind of pass rush pressure that BHP can generate, the secondary needs to capitalize on any errant throws that come their way. Equally important will be keeping this young quarterback contained in the pocket and disrupting those quick passing windows that can extend drives and build momentum.

Early in their game against Boiling Springs, Greer's quick passing attack was clicking and giving them the ability to sustain drives that kept their offense on the field. That type of methodical passing game can wear down defenses and create the kind of long, grinding possessions that BHP needs to avoid at all costs.

Offensively, BHP needs to replicate that explosive start they showcased against Broome, jumping out to a four-touchdown lead before the first quarter clock hit zero. But establishing an early lead is only the beginning of the equation, as Greer proved last week that no advantage is safe in high school football. The Yellow Jackets stared down a 23-point halftime deficit and nearly pulled off the comeback.

This week, the Bears need to blend that explosive big-play capability with the kind of ball control offense that can chew up clock and maintain possession, especially as the game moves into the second half. The ability to shift gears from explosive to methodical could prove to be the difference between a comfortable victory and a nail-biting finish.

After spending Week 1 on foreign soil, BHP returns to the friendly confines of Bear territory, where the home crowd can provide that extra boost of energy that makes Friday nights in high school football truly special.



Previous Matchup: 2024 Week 2



Score: BHP 37 -- Greer 7

2024 Week 2 BHP Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 24 rushes for 184 yards and 2 TDs
Team Passing: 9/22/0 for 116 yards and 2 TDs
Team Total: 46 plays for 300 total yards and 4 TDs

Rushing Leader: #3 Marquise Henderson - 9 rushes for 144 yards and 2 TDs
Passing Leader: #7 Noah Thomas - 9/22/0 for 116 yards and 2 TDs
Receiving Leaders: #5 Tajeh Watson-Martin - 3 receptions for 39 yards and 1 TD
Defensive Leader: #5 Tajeh Watson-Martin - 3 solo tackles, 1 Fumble Recovery, 1 Pass Break-up, and 1 Defensive TD.

2024 Week 2 Greer Offensive Stats:
Team Rushing: 36 rushes for 154 yards and 1 TD
Team Passing: 8/22/0 for 101 yards
Team Total: 58 plays for 255 yards and 1 TD

Rushing Leader: #29 Nick Holmes - 25 rushes for 121 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: #5 Kaden Rowland - 8/22/0 for 101 yards
Receiving Leaders: #8 Mikey Williams - 4 receptions for 72 yards



Quick Stats





Wrap Up



The season launched with fireworks last week, and not even I-85 gridlock could pump the brakes on this BHP freight train. But the calendar waits for no one, as the Bears welcome a perennial 4A powerhouse in Greer to their home turf. This Bear squad still has questions to answer and statements to make, but this Friday night promises to feature dueling light shows under the “NEW” BHP stadium lights.


Prediction: BHP 42 - Greer 14

We want to see every member of Bear Nation packed into BHP this Friday to support Them Bears under the lights. Stay connected and get instant notifications when our posts drop by following us on Facebook and X. This season brings something special to the table, so make sure to subscribe to The Bear Rumble Podcast where myself and some special guests dive deep into all things BHP football. Stay plugged in, because come Friday, we'll be dropping the GameDay Graphic and providing live tweets with stats and highlights throughout the entire game.

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