The season is here and not a week too early. With the summer and pre-season behind us, it is time for the Bears to step on the field.
With that, bring on the Rams!
Week 1 Preview
As the season kicks off BHP will be taking on the Westside Rams. This will be the first matchup between these two teams since 2015.
After last season's reclassification, Westside is now in Region 1 AAAA. Last season, Westside had a very successful year in the new region. They started the year with 5 consecutive wins (Easley, Travelers Rest, Pendleton, Walhalla, and Pickens) and won their region. They ended the year with a loss against crosstown rival T.L. Hanna and then a first-round playoff loss to Irmo. They were very potent on offense, outscoring opponents 254 to 118. They are led by senior quarterback Peter Zamora who passed for 171 yards per game, threw 11 touchdowns, and had only 4 interceptions last season.
BHP will look to limit Westside’s offense with a ball-control offense of their own. After the jamboree against Hart County, it was clear that BHP wants to be methodical and that mindset can only help elevate the pressure on the defense. BHP has no room to stumble out of the gates this year as the non-region games could be one of the toughest BHP has ever faced and it all begins with this initial Anderson County foe.
2015 Game Stats (Last Matchup)
Score: BHP 10 -- Westside 36
BHP Yardage:
Team Rushing: 40 rushes for 148 yards and 1 TD
Team Passing: 5/13/4 for 27 yards
Team Total: 53 plays for 175 yards and 1 TD
Rushing Leader: #3 Jawunn Abney - 18 rushes for 50 yards
Passing Leader: #8 Austin Estes - 4/10/3 for 20 yards
Receiving Leaders: #9 Evan Vaughn - 1 reception for 14 yards
Westside Team Yardage:
Team Rushing: 33 Rushes for 114 yards and 1 TD
Team Passing: 28/38/1 for 271 yards and 2 TDs
Team Total: 71 plays for 385 yards and 3 Offensive TDs
Rushing Leader: #21 Quinn Wright - 20 rushes for 82 yards and 1 TD
Passing Leader: #5 Jackson Williamson - 20/37/0 for 271 yards and 2 TDs
Receiving Leaders: #6 Jyston Kendrick - 9 receptions for 72 yards and 1 TD
Quick Stats
- BHP under Coach Blackston is 31 - 9 against Anderson County teams and has never lost a Week 1 game against an Anderson County team.
- BHP is 18 - 14 against Westside all-time and 11 - 5 since 2000.
- The largest margin of victory against Westside is 35 points (2012 and 2000) while the largest margin of loss is 41 points (1994)
- BHP is 36-19 all-time in week 1 games.
- Since 2010 BHP is 10 - 1 in week 1 games (only losing in 2012 against Laurens).
- 86% of BHP’s rushing attempts, 87% of rushing yards, and 89% of rushing TDs from last season graduated.
- Since 2018 there have only been 3 BHP QBs who have attempted 10 or more passes in a season (all have graduated).
- Last season, BHP allowed 200 or more yards in a game only once (336 yards against Daniel).
- Last season was the first season that BHP did not make it to the playoffs since 1996.
- Coach Blackston is 6 wins away from 100 wins as the BHP Head Football Coach.
Conclusion
Most of the time the saying goes “Limping to the finish line”, but with the current state of health-related issues, it seems we are limping to the starting line. But the closer it gets, the more realistic a season appears as well. Bear fans should be excited to get the season started, and hopefully, at the end of Friday night, be celebrating a victory.
Prediction: BHP 21 - Westside 17
Remember how the wise old saying goes, “You have to win the first one to win them all” and that is exactly what BHP will be playing for this Friday against Westside.
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