Bold Predictions 2023

Hey, Bear fans! We have come to that time of the preseason when I break out the crystal ball and go full-on Nostradamus on the upcoming season. Now, I was thinking of a catchy way to kick off this post, and it brought me back to the hilarious skits from the Conan O'Brien Show, you know, the ones with “In the Year Three Thousand.” So, let's lower the lights and start up the fog machine, and take a deep dive into the future as we unveil my daring predictions for this season.

And, don't label me insane – just audaciously bold!

1) BHP will surpass 4,000 rushing yards as a team.

Wham! Let's start with a bang. I can already hear you say, "The Bears set a school record with 3,300 rushing yards last season, how on earth could they reach 4,000?" I get it, 4,000 rushing yards seems insane. But bear with me (pun intended) as I lay out the path to this remarkable feat.

It all begins in the trenches. The offensive line that powered last season's record will return, with just one lineman change. Now, ask any offensive line coach, and they'll tell you what makes a great line is talent and cohesiveness, and this group has both in spades.

Next up, is the running back squad. BHP boasts the return of three of the top four rushers from last season: Marquise Henderson, Shaheem Robbs, and Justin Lathon, who collectively rushed for 2,568 yards. And let me tell you, Marquise Henderson is an absolute beast, averaging a jaw-dropping 10.4 yards per rush. Follow this – a vote was held to decide the current best rusher in South Carolina by a state-wide media outlet, and Henderson made the list. On that list, he had nearly half the rushes of anyone else on it. Just to put it in perspective: imagine if he had the same number of carries as Trey Thompson of Andrew Jackson (also on the list and just over 340 carries) – we’re talking 3,536 yards! That's how explosive and game-changing this dude is in his limited touches.

Now, with all eyes on Henderson, the BHP quarterback will have open lanes to scamper for big gains on the ground. Picture this – a speedy QB deciding to give or keep the ball on read options, and boom! BHP could be rolling in big chunk plays from the signal-caller.

Trust me, there's more to this story, as we might see BHP go deep into the playoffs this year. So let's focus on those incredible season totals that could lead them to 4,000 rushing yards.

Marquise Henderson - 1,800 yards
Shaheem Robbs - 1,000 yards
Justin Lathon - 750 yards
Noah Thomas (QB) - 500 yards
Total: 4,050 total rushing yards (or 2.3 miles)

So, have I gone bold enough? Let me know what you think about this prolific rushing attack!

2) BHP will score double-digit non-offensive touchdowns.

Hold your horses! I predicted this before, and I fell just five short last year, but I'm doubling down on this one. I can see a clear path for the Bears to score 10 non-offensive touchdowns. And here's how:

Let's start with the defensive side of the ball. BHP's defense is locked and loaded to snag three pick-sixes and return two fumbles for TDs. But wait, there's more! On special teams, they're ready to block one punt and take it to the house, return one punt for a TD, and run back three kickoffs for those glorious six points.

I bet you're itching to know who's going to make these electrifying plays. Well, don't hold back! Let us know your predictions in the comments.

3) BHP will have a +10 turnover differential for the season.

Now, this one's not as flashy as those TDs, but it's crucial for a successful season. Last year, BHP had a respectable overall turnover differential of +4, but I'm sensing even greater things this time around.

Remember that running back trio? Henderson, Robbs, and Lathon (Rock, Paper, Scissors) were a turnover fortress last season, losing only one fumble in 328 combined rushes. That's an impressive stat, my friends, and it sets the stage for an exceptionally low number of turnovers for BHP this year.

But there's more! BHP's defensive line is shaping up to be a real force, which means more sacks, tackles for losses, and, you guessed it, turnovers. With a fiercer pass rush, expect more rushed throws and opportunities for BHP to snatch the ball when it's put in the air.

So, when all is said and done, I see BHP with 10 offensive turnovers and forcing a whopping 25 on defense. Lock and load, folks!

4) BHP’s Peter Bertoni will not miss a PAT or Field Goal attempt all season.

Get ready for some sweet, accurate kicking action! Peter Bertoni has been a machine, converting 69 PATs and missing only 5 (3 of those blocked) in the last two seasons. And don't forget, he's nailed 4 field goals while missing just one, boasting an overall kick success percentage of 92.4%.
But wait, there's more! Bertoni even tied a school record (matching his brother) with 57 made PATs last season. Now, that's impressive.

So, hold onto your seats because I predict that Peter will take an even bigger step forward this year, becoming even more automatic when he puts his foot to that pigskin. And if the offense keeps improving, he might just set some school records for kickers.

5) BHP has a true Undefeated season (15-0)!

If you've caught our previous '5 Questions' piece, you already know we're setting the bar high for this team, but this time, we're shooting for the moon. Yep, we're talking about an untarnished, undefeated season.

The next season marks two decades since BHP took it all the way, undefeated, and clinched their solitary State Football title. But hey, I'm throwing down the gauntlet that they'll match that mark this season.

We've already gone toe-to-toe with the regular season games in our previous post and pitched reasons why the Bears could come out on top (though some of those scenarios might pop up in the playoffs as well). Now, it's time to switch our focus to the 3AAA teams that could stand in BHP's way come playoff time.

Upper State:
Daniel - They're without Eli Mereck, one of the top QBs in the state (now playing for Oklahoma) and Misun Kelley (a top-notch defensive back now at Clemson). Plus, Daniel has seen over 20 players graduate from their squad since the last season. But that really means nothing for this team. Don’t forget, Daniel was on a 36-game winning streak until they lost in the upper state final to Powdersville last season.

Clinton - They had to bid adieu to their co-offensive coordinator who's now taken the head coach reins at Ninety Six HS. Their core team members, including the likes of Bryce James (a Mr. Football finalist), Hezekiah Kinard, Justin Copeland, and Jishun Copeland, have also moved on. However, this team returns many from their undefeated regular season team last year and will look to build on their success.

Broome - Broome's got Jaylen McGill, one of the state's best running backs who rushed for 1,036 yards and 23 TDs as a freshman. They also have Kamajay Brackett-Brannon, their senior quarterback who threw for over 1,500 yards and ran for over 900. That duo makes for one of the toughest offenses to stop in 3AAA.

Chapman - Chapman, a regular feature in the 3AAA playoffs, will be kicking off the inaugural season with a new coach but they've still got talent running deep in their Panther veins.

Chester - BHP knows Chester all too well, the team that showed the Bears the exit in 2021. Chester's coming back with a squad that'll surely make waves in the Upper State Playoffs.

Lower State:
Dillon - Dillon's got the state's top-recruited player, South Carolina commit Josiah Thompson. And we all know, any Lower State, heck, any State Title has to deal with the Dillon Wildcats one way or another.

Camden - With a storied history and fresh off a four-loss season (Hartsville, Gray, A.C. Flora, and Dillon being the culprits, yes 4 of the best teams in the state), Camden is all set to reclaim their lower state dominance.

Gilbert - One of only seven 3AAA teams last season with ten or more wins. They're geared up to make a deep run in the lower state.

Beaufort - The reigning state champs, who closed the last season with a win over Powdersville and a 13-1 record. They're stepping into this season on a 13-game winning streak, aiming to bag back-to-back titles.

These teams might be the state's cream of the crop, but Them Bears have got the chops to play ball and take 'em all down. BHP may not see all of these teams depending on playoff seeding and who wins the lower state, but nevertheless BHP will have to take down some of these giants on the way to State if my prediction is right.

BHP's going to take care of business in every game this season! You heard it here first - we'll be partying like it's 2004, but this time we'll be painting the town Navy and Red at South Carolina State.

Big calls, I know, but this team's got me dreaming big.

Right now, BHP is coming off a scrimmage and is gearing up for a jamboree later this week. Finally, we get to see the Bears in action on the field. We're just a breath away from the games that really count, and frankly, I can't contain my excitement.

Got any bold predictions for this season? Let's hear 'em! Leave a comment below or send us your thoughts on our social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter).

Just two more weeks until the first kickoff. Next week, we've got a post lined up about the returning Bears, followed by our deep dive into Week 1 Bear Tracks. Stay tuned, Bear fans!