Coach Heith Maxwell’s Bainbridge Middle School eighth grade Bearcats football team shut out the Thomas County Central Middle School eighth grade Yellow Jackets 40-0 Wednesday at Thomas County Stadium’s Jackets Nest Field.
The Bearcats took a 6-0 lead when quarterback Triston Love ran 13 yards on an option play up the middle for a touchdown in the second quarter to culminate a six play 43-yard drive.  Running back Ed Jones threw what coach Maxwell termed a “great” block to break Love free.Love’s pass was incomplete on a two point conversion attempt.
The key play in the Bearcats’ initial scoring drive was Love’s 14-yard sweep around the left side on a third and eight play from the Yellow Jackets 27 yard line.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 12-0 when Love ran four yards for a touchdown in the third quarter to culminate a two play 19-yard drive. The Bearcats defense held the Yellow Jackets to minus 10 yards on three plays to create a fourth down and nine situation.
Fred Thompson caught the ensuing punt at the 35 yard line and returned it to the 19 yard line. On first down Love ran 15 yards off right to the 4 then Love ran it in for the touchdown. Love tried to run in for the two point conversion but was stopped short.
The Bearcats increased their lead to 18-0 when quarterback Alex Baker ran 16 yards for a touchdown later in the third quarter. Baker’s pass was incomplete on a two point conversion attempt.
Fullback Randy Fillingame ran six yards for a touchdown, and fullback Tim Allison ran in for the two point conversion to give the Bearcats a 26-0 fourth quarter lead.
The scoring drive, which covered two plays and 18 yards, was set up by linebacker Bowen Dodson who recovered a fumble at the Yellow Jackets 18 yard line. The fumble was caused by a hit from linebacker Roman Harrison. Love picked up 12 yards off right guard to the 6, setting up Fillingame’s touchdown run.
Love recovered a fumble and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown running back Ralph Register ran off left guard for the two point conversion to put the Bearcats up 34-0.
Fillingame’s 25-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown tacked on the Bearcats’ final six points. Kejuan Newton’s attempted two point conversion run was stopped.