The Bainbridge Middle School seventh grade Bearcats football team dropped a 22-8 decision to the Washington Middle School seventh grade Tigers Wednesday at Cairo High School’s West Thomas Stadium.

The Tigers scored three first-half touchdowns to take a 22-0 lead at intermission. They went up 6-0 on a 41-yard touchdown run by their quarterback with 6:10 remaining in the first quarter. They increased the advantage to 8-0 on a 2-point conversion reverse to the left by their wingback.

The initial scoring drive covered 65 yards in five plays. The Tigers increased their advantage to 14-0 when their quarterback threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to their wingback with 2:30 left in the first quarter. The Tigers quarterback tried to throw for the 2-point conversion but Bearcats linebacker Sam Boutwell came up to pressure him causing an incompletion.

The Tigers went up 20-0 when their wingback ran 49 yards for a touchdown with three minutes remaining in the second quarter and they completed a pass for the 2-point conversion

The Bearcats’ touchdown came on a three-yard run by fullback Ronnie Vickers with 3:44 remaining in the third quarter. Sam Boutwell, who plays tailback on offense, ran over left guard for the 2-point conversion to make it 22-8.

Despite the loss, coach Blake Carruthers said he was pleased with his team’s performance.

“We played hard the entire game and did some things very well,” he said. “We played hard on both sides of the ball.”

The seventh grade Bearcats will return to action Tuesday when they host the Thomas County Central Middle School seventh grade Yellow Jackets at 5 p.m. at Centennial Field.