The Bainbridge Middle School eighth-grade Bearcats football team dropped a 28-14 season opening decision to the Thomas County Central Middle School eighth grade Yellow Jackets Thursday at Centennial Field.

The Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 12-0 first quarter lead on a pair of touchdown runs by quarterback Kelijah Williams.

A Williams to wide receiver Earnest McCorkle second-quarter touchdown pass and a Williams two-point conversion run put the Yellow Jackets up 20-0.

The Bearcats cut the halftime lead to 20-8 at on a mid second-quarter touchdown by Lebron Broadax and a two-point conversion run by Dalvin Spivey.

The Yellow Jackets increased their advantage to 28-8 on a third-quarter touchdown and two-point conversion runs by Williams.

The Bearcats brought the crowd to its feet and cut the lead to the final of 28-14 when quarterback Eddie Cooper dropped back and threw a deep touchdown pass to wide receiver Lance Cosby, who had gotten behind the secondary down the left sideline. The pass and run covered 70 yards. The conversion try failed.

Decatur County middle-school football coordinator and head eighth-grade Bearcats football coach Scott Starr, said, while his team did some good things offensively and defensively, there was still work that needed to be done.

The eighth grade Bearcats will return to action next Thursday, Sept. 13, when they host the Brooks County Middle School eighth-grade Trojans at 5 p.m. at Centennial Field.