Bainbridge High School Bearcats head football coach Ed Pilcher expressed pride in his team’s effort in Friday night’s last minute 14-10 Region 1AAAA loss to the Warner Robins High School Demons.

“It was a tough loss, but I couldn’t be prouder of our young men,” the Bearcats head coach said. “They played hard and well all night.

“All losses are tough, but considering how well we played, this one was particularly tough.”

“Our offense, defense and special teams all did a good job. The screen pass, which got the ball deep into our territory and set up their winning touchdown throw, was the first screen pass they have thrown all year.

“In watching film on them, we could not see another one. It was really not set up that well. There wasn’t a lot of blocking out front, but we missed some tackles.

“We just missed an assignment on their winning touchdown pass that came on third down.

“If it had gone to fourth down, they would have probably tried to kick a field goal to tie it up and send it to overtime.”

Cole Granato, the Bearcats’ starting center suffered a sprained knee and Pilcher said it is uncertain whether he will be able to play against Lee County.

A victory over the Lee County Trojans will assure the Bearcats, who are 6-2 overall and 3-2 in Region 1AAAA play, a spot in the first round of the State Class AAAA playoffs.

“What we have to do now is put the well played Warner Robins game behind us and get ready for Lee County,” Coach Pilcher said. “Our secondary will be tested because they like to throw the football.”