How Bout Them Bears: The Championship Story Part 3

“He was being hit. You try to (stay out of it) but when they come in and hit you, it’s hard. They were frustrated, we whipped them up and down the field all night.” O’Bryan Clinkscales.

Round 1

Some teams scrape their way into the playoffs, barely making the cut, while others stride in confidently, their path seemingly unchallenged. Yet, every team, regardless of their journey, enters the playoffs with a renewed sense of hope and energy. For the Bears, the playoffs brought more than just hope; they brought an escalating pressure that grew with each victory. As one of the top teams in the state, with an undefeated regular season behind them, the expectations were sky-high, and the weight of those expectations increased with each round.

The first-round matchup against Wade Hampton was less about who would win and more about by how many points. Wade Hampton, finishing fourth in Region 2 with a 3-7 record, had managed victories over Riverside, Eastside, and Southside but had given up more points in three individual region games than BHP had in all their region games combined. The numbers told a story of disparity: BHP allowed just 33 total points in region play, while Wade Hampton conceded 42 to Travelers Rest, 46 to Greenville, and 44 to JL Mann. Despite the clear mismatch on paper, the game had to be played.

Since the Pickens game, this team, especially the senior class, seemed to grasp the true significance of each game. Just two seasons earlier, in 2002, BHP had won their region and hosted a 6-4 Broome team, only to be defeated 29-15 in the first round. With that bitter memory and the close calls earlier in the season, this team was determined to leave no doubt in their first-round matchup. And leave no doubt they did. By halftime, BHP was leading 33-7, powered by O’Bryan Clinkscales’s three passing touchdowns and a punt return for a touchdown. By the end of the game, BHP added four more touchdowns, cruising to a 59-14 victory and advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

It was the offensive explosion many had been waiting for, showcasing not just their ground game, but a potent aerial attack. Throughout the season, there had been glimpses of what this offense could achieve, but in this game, everything clicked. The offense, led by the dynamic Clinkscales, finally matched the defense's dominant performance, setting new expectations for the Bears. Yet, everyone knew it was just Wade Hampton, and the real tests were still to come. The outcome was expected, but it was also a promise of what could be, if only they could sustain this level of play against tougher opponents.

Time For Some Payback

Going into the second round of the playoffs, the competition ramped up, but for the Bears, redemption was also on the menu. BHP was set to host the team that ended their season 364 days before. Not only was last year’s embarrassing loss fresh in their minds, but BHP had also fallen to Union in the previous five playoff matchups. The historical stats seemed like an unclimbable mountain, but this season, this team was different.

Even with the dismal past matchups against Union, the 2003 game was the one that stung the most. After that crushing 33-0 defeat, BHP’s starting linebacker Ronnell Harper summed up the collective mindset after the 2004 game: “The defeat they gave us last year—we had to come back and play tough this year.” Tough might have been an understatement for how BHP handled Union this time around.

As the Bears made their way onto the field, so did the Yellow Jackets. In numbers, these two teams looked vastly different. Union dressed nearly 100 players, aiming to use sideline intimidation as they had before. But this year, something was different—19 seniors lined up at the 50-yard line for the coin toss, a new tradition symbolizing solidarity and strength through the leadership of the team. Instead of just the four team captains, the entire senior class stood tall.

The stage was set, and the kickoff provided a much-needed release of building pressure and tension. The Bears wasted no time. On their second possession, they went 42 yards in 8 plays, capped off by a 5-yard Chase Robinson run. On their next drive, they marched 50 yards in 12 plays, scoring on a 1-yard rush from O’Bryan Clinkscales.

With a 14-point lead and a defense like BHP’s, the game felt all but over, and both sides knew it. BHP allowed Union to run only six plays in the first quarter, and Union managed just two first downs in the first half, both due to defensive penalties. The halftime score held at 14-0 in favor of BHP.

Defense can be a fickle beast—one moment you’re dominating, and the next, a lapse in focus leads to a score. But not on this night. The Bears came out in the second half and ratcheted up the intensity even further. They forced a safety after a botched punt attempt in the third quarter, widening the margin to 16-0. And as they had all season, when an opponent made a mistake, the Bears pounced. After the safety, Union lined up for the free kick. Seconds later, the ball was downed on the 10-yard line after a monstrous return by the Bears. On the next play, Robinson waltzed into the end zone, putting BHP up 23-0, which would be the final score.

And just like in all the games before, the defense had the honor of putting the game away. Union made three trips inside BHP’s 30-yard line in the second half, and all three ended in turnovers: a fumble recovery by Joseph Groves and interceptions by Stephen Culbertson and Josh Tavernier. The Yellow Jackets finished with only 99 total yards, four turnovers, and zero points. Tempers flared as the game wound down. With less than two minutes left, a Union player and BHP’s Kyle Coleman were ejected after a scuffle (though Coleman’s ejection was later rescinded). O’Bryan Clinkscales commented on the incident, “He (Coleman) was being hit. You try to stay out of it, but when they come in and hit you, it’s hard.” He added, “They were frustrated. We whipped them up and down the field all night.”

In the end, it wasn’t just a victory; it was an exorcism of past demons. The Bears had proven they were not the team of past years. They were tougher, smarter, and more united. As they advanced to the next round, the pressure would only increase, but so would their resolve. The story of BHP’s season was far from over, and each game brought them one step closer to rewriting their history.

An Unexpected Opponent

During the second round of the playoffs, field conditions caused Greer and Greenville to postpone their game to Saturday. This created a unique opportunity for coaches, players, and fans from BHP to scout their potential opponents. I remember heading to Sirrine Stadium with my dad, sitting on the Greer side of the field, and witnessing one of the most memorable entrances in high school football. Greer is known for emerging from a cloud of fire-extinguisher smoke and walking through the stands during their home games, but so was Greenville. What made this entrance special this night was, they brought this tradition on the road, filing through the away stands in a haze of smoke, making a statement before the game even started. Most spectators, myself included, expected Greenville to win. But 48 minutes and 261 rushing yards from Greer’s top rusher later, a matchup between the defending AAA State Champion Greer and undefeated BHP was set.

With the win over Union, the Bears had taken steps no BHP football player had ever taken before. It was the first time BHP had ever beaten Union in a playoff matchup and only the second time a BHP team had made it to the third round of the playoffs—the first being in 2000 under Coach Green. The similarities to that 2000 team didn’t end there. That team was widely considered the best to ever play for BHP, going undefeated in the regular season, winning the region championship, and facing Wade Hampton in the first round and Greer in the third. This year’s team was following in those footsteps, and fate seemed to be aligning perfectly.

All week leading up to the game, the talk was about the dominant running offense of Greer versus the impenetrable defensive front seven of BHP. Greer’s offense was led by Arthur Sitton, who had rushed for 2,320 yards and 21 touchdowns coming into the game, including 261 against Greenville. But BHP’s Bryan Miller summed up the team’s mindset perfectly: “On the computer, they were saying it’s our defense against their offense. But coach said it’s their team against our team.”

Researching the games, watching game film, and talking to others who were there, I came across an epic line written by contributing writer Adam Beam in the Greenville News: “Greer High coach Travis Perry counted on throwing the ball a lot Friday night against a heralded Belton-Honea Path defense that was sure to focus on Yellow Jackets running back Arthur Sitton. But Perry didn’t count on Bryan Miller.”

That final sentence pointed to a player who had done so much, given up prime playing time, moved positions, and relinquished the spotlight for the betterment of the team. O’Bryan Clinkscales’s performance against Pickens might have been the best individual performance in BHP history, but what Bryan Miller did against Greer was not far behind.

On the second play from scrimmage, Greer completed a pass that moved past the 50-yard line, but Bryan Miller forced a fumble, which was recovered by Josh Tavernier. Neither team scored in the first quarter as both defenses dominated. With 7:56 left in the second quarter, BHP scored first with a 21-yard field goal. Greer’s next drive looked promising, but with under six minutes left in the half, Miller intercepted a pass and returned it 37 yards to the Greer 13-yard line. Four plays later, Clinkscales rushed for a 1-yard touchdown, putting the Bears up 10-0 at halftime.

Both teams came out of halftime with strong defensive showings. The fourth quarter, however, was different. The Bears started the quarter by marching 91 yards in 16 plays, taking nearly half the time off the clock. Clinkscales found Tavernier on an 8-yard pass to extend BHP’s lead to 17-0 with seven minutes left.

The Yellow Jackets weren’t done yet. On their next drive, they went 78 yards in two plays, including a 66-yard pass to claw back to 17-7 with 6:07 left. Greer tried an onside kick, but Bryan Miller was waiting. He recovered the kick, securing possession for the Bears.

On the ensuing drive, BHP faced a third-and-ten on Greer’s 25-yard line. With time ticking away and a ten-point lead, everyone expected BHP to run the ball and eat up the clock. Instead, Clinkscales dropped back and found a wide-open Miller in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard touchdown with 5:19 left. This play put the proverbial nail in the coffin. But Miller wasn’t done. With 4:33 left, he intercepted another pass, his second of the game. By the end, BHP had held Greer’s Sitton to 38 rushing yards and forced four turnovers.

In the end, Bryan Miller’s stat line read like a checklist for a dream game: two interceptions, a touchdown reception, a forced fumble, and an onside kick recovery. Not bad for a player who had moved from starting running back to cornerback at the beginning of the season. Miller summed it up after the game: “I don’t plan for nothing big. I just come out and play and have fun and do what I have to do for the team. We gave up a couple of big plays probably, but we stood on our toes and done our thing.” Whether it was standing on their toes or floating on air, Miller’s final interception had everyone in the home stands celebrating a victory that felt destined.

In this game, the Bears didn’t just win; they made history, proving that they were not just another BHP team. They were a force to be reckoned with, rewriting the narrative of what BHP football could achieve. The journey wasn’t over, but with each game, the Bears showed that they were prepared to go where no BHP team had gone before.

We Meet Again

With the win over Greer, BHP advanced to the Upper State Championship for the first time in school history (during the modern playoff era, the 1968 team played for the upperstate championship but the playoff system was completely different). The Bears had never made it to the fourth round of the playoffs, and the achievement was monumental. For the second time this season, BHP would face Clinton, which became the focal point of the narrative. Both teams had evolved since their last encounter. Clinton had gone 8-1 after the frist matchup against BHP, their only other loss coming in week six to Union, while BHP’s defense remained dominant, but now with an offense bolstered by a revitalized passing attack.

An often-overlooked aspect for a team like BHP, with limited deep playoff experience, was how to navigate the Thanksgiving week. Entering this uncharted territory posed logistical challenges, especially concerning practice schedules. The actual Thursday Thanksgiving practice was more about walkthroughs, reviewing the game plan, and ensuring the team was focused. Thursday’s session ended early, allowing everyone to enjoy the holiday. But for many players, including myself, Thanksgiving dinner was filled with questions about the upcoming game rather than relaxation. Friday was the real challenge. With no school and a 7:30 pm kickoff, the coaches knew they needed to established a routine: a team breakfast, smaller group gatherings at teammates’ houses, and reconvening at school in the early afternoon to maintain a sense of normalcy.

When it was finally time to take the field, the atmosphere was electric. The stadium was overflowing with fans—the most people I had ever seen there. A TV station’s helicopter landed at midfield to deliver the game ball, and BHP followed their tradition of slapping hands with the Bear statue in the end zone before sprinting to the sideline as “2001: A Space Odyssey” blared from the marching band. It was the biggest football game in BHP history.

Just like their previous matchup, the key battle was Clinton’s run game, led by Chetyuane Reeder, against BHP’s defensive front seven. Reeder came into the game with 1,941 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns, determined to redeem his earlier performance against BHP, where he was held to just 77 yards. But, as they had all season, BHP’s defense rose to the challenge.

Clinton found early success, moving the ball down to the BHP 11-yard line on their first drive. But BHP stopped an option pitch mere inches from the goal line—a theme that would repeat throughout the game for Clinton. On their second possession, Clinton moved inside the BHP 30-yard line, only to turn the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass. In the third quarter, BHP’s defense again stopped Clinton just short of a first down, forcing a punt. Andy Young, Clinton’s Head Coach, reflected, “Three times we came up measuring with inches for first downs. We just didn’t make the plays.”

For the first 20 minutes, BHP’s offense struggled as well. But with just over three minutes left in the first half, O’Bryan Clinkscales connected with Mario Glenn for a 59-yard touchdown. Two plays later, BHP’s Stephen Culbertson returned a Reeder fumble to the BHP 45-yard line. After Clinkscales connected on a 43-yard pass, Chase Robinson punched it in for a 3-yard touchdown run. BHP missed the two-point conversion, but within two game minutes, they had taken a 12-0 lead into halftime.

The third quarter was a defensive stalemate, with both teams punting on short drives. But with 10:28 left in the game, Clinkscales threw his final pass of the night, a 46-yard touchdown to Bryan Miller, putting BHP up 19-0. Clinkscales finished with 246 passing yards, a vast improvement from their first matchup when he had just 35 passing yards, threw an interception, and lost two fumbles. He remarked after the game, “I’ve been waiting for this opportunity all year long. I’m just glad Coach Green opened it up a little bit.”



After the game, there was a mix of excitement and a bittersweet realization that it would be the last time this team played at home. But one sentiment lingered in the air like the thick fog of those crisp fall nights. Coach Green told anyone who would listen, “If you look at three of the top programs in the state over the last 10 years, it’s been Union, Greer, and Clinton. And we’ve beaten all three of them to get to this point. But there’s still one to go, and it will be extremely tough.”

We all knew something special was happening, that we had accomplished something never done by anyone wearing our jersey. But in the moment, it never felt extraordinary. Every time we took the field, every defensive stop, every offensive touchdown, it felt like we were simply doing what we were supposed to be doing, what we had been doing all our lives.

Fourteen games and fourteen wins, but now only one would matter. In the next post, we will dive deep into the week leading up to the big game and the game under the big lights. This is where everything we’ve worked for, every sacrifice and every moment of glory, will be put to the ultimate test.