The Bear Tracks Five Questions

We’re done with all the hype around the stadium soundtracks and soundboard. Now it's time to dive into what we're all here for – Bear football!

Each season, I serve up five burning questions for every BHP Bear team to answer. And for this season, here they are.

1) Can the rush game outdo their own 2022 record-breaking performance, now with all eyes on them?


Of all the questions, this one probably got you on the edge of your seat. BHP’s rushing attack last season was a force of nature. We’re talking about setting a single-season record at BHP with a whopping 3,388 rushing yards. Now you’re wondering, how can it get better than that? Let me tell you.

Let’s start with why it needs to get better. If you're a frequent reader of my posts, you'd know my admiration for Michael Lombardi, the former GM of the New England Patriots. He's got this saying (I’m paraphrasing) – great teams focus on making their greatest strength even stronger, while the mediocre ones spend too much time patching up their weaknesses. If you ponder on it a bit, it starts to make sense. You could sweat about improving your weak points, or you could double down on your best, blowing the competition out of the water with what you do the best. The more I view football teams through this prism, the clearer it becomes that I'd rather stretch the lead on my best skills than reduce the distance on my worst. And that’s what the Bears could do.

So, how do they pull it off?

Remember this group broke the school record for total rushing yards last season? Here’s my three-step plan: 1) Improvement of the ability, strength, and running prowess of the three rushers, 2) Introduce a different rushing option at QB, and 3) Stick to an offensive scheme that stays true to the run.

The Bears are bringing back three of their top four rushers from last season – Marquise Henderson, Shaheem Robbs, and Justin Lathon. The only absentee is AJ Pendleton (QB), who graduated. These three were responsible for a massive 75.8% of all rushing yards, 67.9% of rushes, and 69.0% of rushing TDs. And they achieved a stunning average of 7.8 yards per carry, with Marquise Henderson leading the pack with 10.44 yards per carry. Talk about setting a high bar!

First off, we can expect a level-up from our returning rushers. Henderson and Robbs will be going into their third year in the offense, and Lathon into his second. With another year of weight and agility training under their belts, and more experience on the field, we can bet on them showing incremental improvements. Especially Marquise Henderson – we'll probably gush about his unique talent throughout the year, but here’s a teaser. As a freshman, Henderson posted 94 rushes for 892 yards (leading the team), and as a sophomore, he racked up 128 rushes for 1,336 yards (leading the team). That’s a 36.2% increase in rushes and a 49.8% leap in rushing yards, and those can be accounted for in workload alone. Plus, with another stellar two seasons, he could break BHP's all-time rushing record. Can you imagine the motivation?


Next, let's talk about the introduction of a new rushing QB option that might look different from what we’ve seen. He might remind you of AJ Pendleton, who was second on the team in rushing yardage last season. But I've been hearing whispers (unofficial, of course) about a QB on the roster who could be one of the quickest cats on the field, especially when Marquise Henderson is catching his breath on the sideline. Picture this – a backfield where every rushing option has the ability to make it a touchdown run on any play. Sounds like a party to me.

Finally, our coaching staff knows how to put our players in the right place at the right time. As the Bears groom a new signal-caller, I could see them shifting some of the passing responsibilities to the unstoppable three (maybe four) backfield beasts.

I didn't even mention the offensive line, who return 4 of the 5 starters from last season (we will dedicate a whole question to the big guys up front). 

Considering how monstrous this rushing attack is going to be, the backfield trio needs a catchy nickname. That’s where I step in. Here are my top picks for the running back trio nickname:



Let me know what you think and what option you can come up with!

2) What’s the lowdown on the Quarterback position?


After the fireworks of last season thanks to Senior AJ Pendleton at quarterback, BHP will now need a new gun-slinger. That much is certain. But that's as far as my knowledge extends (why did I even ask this question, I do not know).

My guesswork, though, suggests that the JV squad's stellar season had a certain QB at the helm – Noah Thomas. From what I can gather, he's probably going to be the main man this season.

Noah showed off both his arm and legs for the JV team last season. He clocked a 4.68 40-yard dash at the Tennessee Football camp this summer (this deep dive of a stat comes from his Twitter page). And after reviewing some highlights from his Freshman season, it's clear his speed translates beautifully on the field. There were instances when Thomas sidestepped a defensive player and while another defender had the correct angle on him, he outpaces them without so much as a touch (reminds me of another particular BHP player).

This type of player isn't new to BHP. AJ Pendleton was a similar dual-threat QB, so we're hoping Thomas can step right in and pick up where the Bears left off.

Now just envision having a speedster alongside Marquise Henderson in the backfield. Either one could take it to the house at any moment. If you look back at how Eli Hudgins and Thomas Williams teamed up last season for Powdersville, I feel like Noah Thomas and Marquise Henderson could replicate that magic.

The primary concern right now is depth, but that’s always the case with the QB position.

Oh boy, the anticipation is killing me.

Let me add, I don't have any insider info nor have I attended practices. So, when the Bears gear up for the first scrimmage next week, we could see a surprise candidate.


3) Can the line play outshine the rest of the team this year?


Both on offense and defense, the question is whether the Bears can lean more on their line play.

Let's kick off with the offensive line. BHP will be bringing back 4 of their 5 starting offensive linemen from last season. And among those 4, 2 were fresh-faced freshmen last season. Given the records set by the Bears' offense last year behind such an inexperienced line, I can only imagine what they'll achieve this season. Keep an eye out for Oliver Marett (Junior), Drew Langley (Junior), Keylan Dixon (Sophomore), Keagan Mosher (Sophomore), and Judson Thomas (Senior). These five, along with several other linemen, will be paving the way for our Rock, Paper, Scissors trio.

Switching to the defensive line, BHP generally runs with three down linemen. Two of the three starters from last season have graduated. But don't despair, that means (unless my math fails me) ⅓ of the line is back. And that ⅓ includes a big one – ExZavier Burns (6'2", 340 lbs big). Jamiah Galbreath, who played major snaps for the Bears and had the 4th most defensive points among the designated defensive linemen, join ExZavier. With such talent on the offensive line, it won't be surprising to see the defense draw from that pool and switch up some positions. With so many Bear linebackers graduating, we might even see a four-down lineman front – something I’d love to see being a big guy myself.

And here's another reason why the lines should be the bedrock of the team – they're clashing against each other in every practice. Going up against two of the best lines in 3AAA football daily can only sharpen their skills.

4) Who are the dark horses players on the roster?


This might be the most thrilling question on the list. Every season, teams lose players to graduation and it's up to the remaining ones to step up. The big question is – who will take on a pivotal role in this year's team?

Here's my shortlist of players who could rise to the occasion:

Que Alexander: Starting off with Que, he'll be a Senior but it's his first season with the Bears. Que played for T.L. Hanna last season where he rushed for 420 yards on 48 carries and had 6 receptions for 104 yards. With BHP, I see him shifting out wide. His lightning-fast speed at the wide receiver position will be crucial for the Bears, especially as teams stack the box to try and curtail the rushing attack. I expect Que to have a big year.

Tay Paul: A Senior, Tay Paul is another one to watch. Tay contributed on offense last season with 9 catches for 49 yards. However, with the addition of Que Alexander, I see Tay making strides as well. Both Que and Tay are quick-twitch athletes, and they could help BHP compensate for the loss of three fantastic receivers who graduated last season.

Ryan Lee: A rising Junior, Ryan is a 2x State Champion Pole Vaulter. How that translates to football, I'm not entirely sure, but I believe he'll make a significant impact as a reliable possession receiver this season for the Bears.

Norikus Cowan: Another rising Junior, Norikus will need to step up as a much-needed defensive back. He started for the Bears last season and had 19 solo tackles, 5 pass breakups, and 1 blocked kick. I expect him to be one of the leaders on the back end of the Bears' defense this season.

This list could easily stretch longer because of the depth of BHP, but we'll keep it concise. Do let me know who you think will be a breakout player for the Bears this season!


5) Is an undefeated season in the cards?


Alright, let's toss this one around, shall we?

Could this be the year of the invincible Bears? Technically, why not? But I'm gonna throw a curveball here and say that the upcoming season looks like it's packing more heat than last time around. Remember back last season the Bears finished the regular season 9-1, and ended with an overall 10-2 record, with the only losses coming against Powdersville in the regular season and Clinton in the playoffs.

Now, the Bears are squaring off against the same regular-season adversaries, with a few primetime match-ups happening right at home. If you ask me, the season's outcome is hinging on four critical games: our clashes against Westside, Woodruff, Powdersville, and Wren.

Westside, in my humble opinion, is the toughest contender on BHP's plate this season. Cutter Woods, their returning QB, is catching more Division 1 offers than a fisherman with a ribbon tail worm. Moreover, a recent Anderson Independent article highlighted that three of the top wide receivers in Anderson and Pickens counties are Westside's own. Let's not forget, the previous two BHP vs Westside games were nail-biters, with BHP clinching victories by a mere 2 and 3 points. Just a side note: this game is Coach Brian Lane's inaugural game for Westside. He's coming from Clover, renowned for having one of the stingiest defenses in the state for a few seasons now. He and the Rams as a whole will have a little bit extra for this game.

Then there's Woodruff, who'll be another solid test for BHP. The past three encounters with Woodruff saw BHP pull out victories with less than an 8-point lead each time. Last season, the Bears tussled with one of the most physical teams they had encountered. The Wolverines trailed 34-14 entering the 4th quarter but clawed their way back, making it a one-score game at the final whistle. BHP might have the talent edge, but against a tough-as-nails squad like Woodruff, they gotta bring their A-game. Adding to the spice, Woodruff's also introducing a new head honcho this season, Brett Sloan.

Our first region game BHP vs Powdersville, just like last season, I would expect, will be a title decider. Last season, Powdersville walked away with a 47-32 victory, which set them on the path to the State Championship game. However, this Powdersville squad will look noticeably different. They've had a significant graduation, with 21 of their 50 players leaving, including a few college-bound talents, led by Thomas Williams now at Virginia Tech. But they still have a few aces, like QB Eli Hudgins, who, in my books, was the most dangerous player last season for the Patriots. This year he's the center of attention, but he's a high-caliber focal point, no doubt. BHP will be eyeing a win against Powdersville for the first time since 2019.

And last but not least, the regular season's finale - BHP at Wren. Despite BHP winning by two touchdowns last time around, that was the Bears' first victory over the Hurricanes since 2018. If all the stars align, BHP could be entering this game 9-0, however, Wren has been a tough environment for the Bears lately. Wren's also welcoming a new coach, Anthony Frate, former head coach at Hillcrest.

Of course, no game's a walk in the park, but I foresee BHP snatching victories in the others we did not mention.

So, undefeated Bears? Absolutely possible. Do I see them pulling it off? You bet!

Then, who can tell what the playoffs might bring if the regular season pans out this way? Perhaps my next week's bold predictions post might offer a sneak peek into the future.

Game on!

Like we repeat every year, every team starts the season with a list of questions, and the answers only come on the field. The anticipation of seeing the Bears in action is mounting!

Got questions or thoughts about this team? We'd love to hear 'em. Drop a comment here or reach out on our Facebook or Twitter accounts.

Stay tuned for next week's post where I'll be channeling my inner psychic, brewing some bold predictions for the 2023 season.

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