The Bainbridge High School junior-varsity Bearcats football team dropped a close 13-6 season-opening game to the Thomas County Central High School Yellow Jackets Thursday at Central’s Jackets Nest Stadium.

The Bearcats took an early 6-0 lead when sophomore running back Tremain McCray ran 20 yards for a first quarter touchdown.

Evan Oldaker’s attempted extra point kick was long enough but wide to the left.

The Yellow Jackets came back to score touchdowns on a second quarter blocked kick and a short third quarter run.

The junior-varsity Bearcats will return to action next Thursday, Sept. 13, when they travel to Thomasville for a 4 p.m. game against the Thomasville High School junior- varsity Bulldogs.

Kickoff will be at 5 p.m. at Thomasville’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Bearcats coach Tom Wheeler said he thought the Bearcats played well on both sides of the ball against the Bulldogs.

“We moved the ball pretty well on offense but just couldn’t get it into scoring position very often,” Wheeler said. “Defensively we held them down.”