Friday night’s season-opening football game between the homestanding Bainbridge High School Bearcats and the East Gadsden High School Jaguars, from Havana, Fla., featured a contrast in styles.

It was the strong passing game of the Jaguars, who prevailed 33-14, against the strong running game of the Bearcats.

Jaguars senior quarterback Treveze Robinson threw a pair of touchdown passes to senior wide receiver Janorriss Cunningham.

Their 7-yard connection helped them tie the game 7-7 in the second quarter and their 15-yard connection sealed the victory in the fourth quarter.

The Jaguars gained 277 yards through the air and 106 yards on the ground.
In contrast, the Bearcats gained 273 yards on the ground and just 9 yards through the air.

Fumbles were also a factor in the game. The Jaguars fumbled four times and did not lose any, while the Bearcats fumbled six times and lost four.
The Bearcats’ senior-dominated offensive line did a good job. They did not allow quarterbacks Preston Norris or Aaron Calloway to be sacked.

While Friday night’s season-opening loss was disappointing for the coaches and players, their goals for the season are still very much intact.

They can still win the Region 1-AAAAA B Sub-Region and Region 1-AAAAA championships and advance to the State Class AAAAA playoffs, where anything can happen.

What they have to do now is put Friday night’s setback behind them and focus on the Cairo High School Syrupmakers, who will come calling on Friday, Sept. 7.

With an open date this week, Bearcats head coach Ed Pilcher and his coaches and players will have ample time to review the East Gadsden game film and make needed adjustments.

I have no doubt that that is exactly what they will do.

Pilcher, who is in his 25th year as a head coach and his fourth year as Bearcats head coach, is one of the winningest and most respected coaches in Georgia high school football ranks.

He won five state championships at Thomas County Central High School and he knows what it takes to get the job done.

With 32 seniors, the players leadership is also strong. I look for everyone to rebound and go on to have a strong winning playoff-bound season.

The award-winning Bearcats marching band and cheerleading squad did their usual outstanding job Friday night and the new traditions put together by a Bainbridge High School Bearcats Booster Club subcommittee were impressive.

I particularly enjoyed the new inflated Bearcats entrance tunnel that the team entered the field through, as the band played. It set a great football atmosphere.

Joe Crine is the Sports Editor of The Post-Searchlight. You can email him at joe.crine@thepostsearchlight.com.