By JOE CRINE and BRENNAN LEATHERS

News Writers

Although they led the first half, the Bainbridge Bearcats fell to their region opponent, the Houston County Bears, by a score of 14-7 Friday night at Centennial Field.

The loss pushes the Bearcats back to a 3-4 overall record and a 1-3 record in Region 1-AAAA.

Bainbridge scored first, when quarterback Steven Bench pitched to running back Aaron Hall, who ran nine yards for a touchdown with 5:19 left in the second quarter. Daniel Provence’s extra point made the score 7-0.

BHS defensive end Dewayne Gurley recovered a Houston County fumble with 4:57 left in the first half, giving the Bearcats the ball at the Bears’ 37. They drove to the Bears’ 5-yard line but turned the ball over on downs with 1:12 left in the half.

The Bearcats forced another fumble early in the third quarter, getting the ball at the Bears’ 27, but a fumble of their own on fourth down meant BHS could not convert the scoring opportunity.

As the fourth quarter started, Bainbridge still led 7-0 but disaster soon struck.

Houston County cornerback Shakir Phillips intercepted a Bench pass and ran it back 33 yards for a touchdown with 11:12 left in the game to tie it at 7-7. Phillips had also intercepted a pass late in the first quarter when the Bearcats were inside the Bears’ red zone.

Led by the rushing of Ron Brown, Houston County drove deep into Bearcat territory midway through the fourth quarter. Finally, Brown burst forward for an 18-yard touchdown with 5:03 left in the game to put the Bears ahead 14-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, BHS kick returner Shawn Samuels raced all the way to the Houston County 40-yard line before being driven out of bounds. On a third down and 10, BHS’ Rohan Gaines leapt up to catch what would have been a first-down reception from Bench, but he lost it as he fell to the ground.

Forced to go for it on fourth down, the Bears chased after Bench and sacked him at midfield with just 4:30 left in the game. The Bears rushed several times in succession to wind time off the clock. Brown had a 20-yard rush to the BHS 18 with 1:16 left to seal the Bears’ victory.

Next Saturday, Bainbridge will travel to play the Warner Robins Demons at 7:30 p.m. in a region match-up.