Bainbridge High School Bearcats head football coach Ed Pilcher liked the way his defense and special teams units came up with big plays at crucial times, during Friday night’s 16-12 season-opening victory over Early County at Centennial Field.

“Linebacker B.J. Cheatem made a couple of big plays late in the game,” he said. “He intercepted a pass and made a hit to cause a fumble which we recovered.

“Our kicking game and our defense were the difference in the game. Place kicker Daniel Provence was really kicking with confidence.”

Pilcher thought Early County quarterback Jacori Taylor did an outstanding job.

“The Early County quarterback is a very good athlete,” he said. “Two-thirds of their offense was based on him. He ran the ball 25 times and threw it 18 more times.

“Their offense ran some misdirection plays and kept our defense off balance in the first half, but we made some adjustments at halftime that helped.

“Offensively we hurt ourselves with penalties. We opened the game with a long 60-yard pass from quarterback Quincy Fortson to wide receiver A.J. Miller deep into Early County territory, but after an illegal procedure penalty we had to settle for a field goal.”