Bainbridge High School Bearcats head football coach Ed Pilcher gave the Bainbridge Lions Club a Wednesday preview of the upcoming season, which opened Friday night against East Gadsden.

“Offensively we return both of our starting senior running backs Terry Lewis and Damian Bouie, who had strong junior seasons,” Pilcher said. “We have four offensive line starters, Cole Granato, Madison Malone, Tim Shaw and Andrezj Jeglinski, back.”

Pilcher said the biggest question right now is at quarterback.

“Juniors Preston Norris and Aaron Calloway are running neck-and-neck at quarterback right now,” he said. “Both of them did some good things in practice and in our pre-season scrimmage against Chamblee High School here last Friday night. We will play both of them.”

Pilcher also told the Lions that the Bearcats have a good nucleus returning on defense.

“Senior defensive end Darryl McGee was first-team All-Region 1-AAAA last season,” he said. “Our three senior linebackers B.J. Cheatem, Jamez Harris and Marshall Mack, were all second-team All-Region 1-AAAA.

“Our special teams are in good hands with senior punter Paul Soden and junior place kicker Daniel Provence.”

Pilcher also discussed the new Region 1-AAAAA that the Bearcats are in this season.

“Recently, with Warner Robins, Northside Warner Robins and Houston County in our region, we had to travel as much as 120 miles to road games,” he said. “With our new region, we have to travel to Northside Columbus and Harris County, but our other two road games are just to Thomas County to play Central and to Blakely to play Early County.

“Westlake, an Atlanta-area school, will be coming here to play us Friday, Sept. 21.”

Pilcher also updated the Lions on the new Georgia High School Association and Decatur County School System heat policies.

“As far as the new heat policies are concerned, we are always going to err on the side of caution,” he said. “If it gets too hot, we take the players inside and take their pads off. During rest periods we keep them hydrated with water, juice or other liquids.

“Temperature readings will determine the mandatory number of breaks for each hour of practice.”