Bainbridge High School tuned up for their 2010 football season opener against Early County Friday with a weather-shortened preseason road scrimmage last Friday against the Americus-Sumter County High School Panthers.

Both teams were pulled off the field and the scrimmage was stopped in the second quarter due to lightning near Americus.

Early County scored the only touchdown of the night with nine minutes and six seconds left in the second quarter, when Malik Thomas threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Je’Colby Small to culminate a three-play, 47-yard drive.

Adam Heath kicked the extra point to make the final score Early County, 7; Bainbridge, 0.

BHS Bearcats individual leaders included quarterback Steven Bench, who completed three of seven pass attempts for 36 yards; wide receiver Rohan Gaines, who caught two passes for 22 yards; and wide receiver Kalvin Coley, who caught one pass for 14 yards.

Defensively for the Bearcats, Quincy Fortson recovered a fumble and had two punt returns for eight yards; and B.J. Cheatem had one kickoff return for five yards.

On Monday, BHS Head Coach Ed Pilcher talked about his team’s effort in Americus and gave a tentative starting lineup for their Friday night season opener in Blakely.

“Offensively, we were playing some people [last Friday night] who had never played before,” the Bearcats head coach said. “They made some mistakes but they also did some good things.

“Defensively we played okay. There were a couple of missed assignments.

Senior Qwatavius Middleton will start at one defensive tackle for us Friday night against Early County. Senior Lawrence Jones will start at the other defensive tackle and junior Shammai Wilburn and senior Johnny Feaster will probably see some playing time there as well.

“Senior Dewayne Gurley will start at one defensive end if he is ready to go. He has a painful hip pointer injury. If he can’t go, sophomore Brandon Crawford and junior Anthony Jackson will get some playing time there.”

Coach Pilcher will start senior Jamario Brown, senior Brandon Linzy and senior Jared Price at linebacker.

Senior Shawn Samuels and junior Quincy Fortson will see duty at cornerback and sophomore Cameron McDowell and seniors Rohan Gaines and Delonte Martistee will see duty at safety.

Sophomore Devin Hubbard could also get some playing time in the defensive secondary.

Offensively, senior Kyle McMillan will start at center and senior Matt Hill and junior Blair Nix will start at the guards.

Sophomores Andrzej Jeglinsky and Aquivius Carroll could also see some duty at guard.

Seniors Jim Griffin and Ty Smith will start at offensive tackle. The tight end will be senior Tim McConnell.

Junior Steven Bench will start at quarterback and junior Rohan Gaines could play there some as well.

“Our running back playing time will be by committee,” coach Pilcher said. “Sophomore B.J. Cheatem, sophomore Damian Bouie, junior Aaron Hall, and sophomore Terry Lewis could also see playing time back there.”

In the running for playing time at wide receiver are seniors Derrick Stubbs, Devonta Johnson and Kalvin Coley, along with junior Rashad Kelly.

Pilcher said BHS is strong in the special teams area, with senior punter and kicker Keenan Adams and senior kick returner Shawn Samuels.