The Bainbridge Middle  School eighth grade Bearcats  defeated Thomasville’s McIntyre Park Middle School eighth grade Bulldogs 44-14 in their annual homecoming game Thursday at Centennial Field.

The Bearcats went up 6-0 when Tristen Love ran nine yards for a touchdown with 6:18 left in the first quarter. Ed Jones tried to run in for the two point conversion but was stopped just short.

Jones ran in for a touchdown from 50 yards out with 2:39 left in the first quarter. Love went in for the two point conversion to put the Bearcats up 14-0. The score was set up by a punt return to midfield by Fred Thompson.

The Bearcats increased their advantage to 22-0 when Aaron Spivey ran 60 yards for a touchdown with 3:26 showing on the second quarter clock, and Jones ran in for the two point conversion. The Bulldogs cut the Bearcats advantage to 22-6 on a touchdown pass to the tight end.

The advantage increased to 28-6 when Jones ran 42 yards for a touchdown with 1:42 left in the second quarter. Jones was stopped just short as he tried to run for the two point conversion.

Jones ran six yards for a touchdown with 4:46 left in the third quarter, then ran for the two point conversion to put the Bearcats 36-0.

The Bearcats final touchdown came on a 54-yard run by Love with 1:58 remaining in the third quarter. Ralph Register ran in for the two point conversion to make it 44-6. The Bulldogs cut the advantage to the final of  44-14 with a five-yard touchdown run and a two point conversion run with 1:10 remaining in the game.

The  Bearcats, who are 5-0 on the season, will return to action Thursday, Oct. 16 when they travel to Cairo to take on the Washington Middle School Tigers at Cairo High School’s West Thomas Stadium. A week later on Thursday, Oct. 23 they will they host the Southwest Georgia Middle School League championship game at Centennial Field.

After the game, Bearcats eighth grade head coach Heith Maxwell said he was particularly pleased with his team’s offensive performance.

“All of our running backs ran hard and our offensive line blocked well,” coach Maxwell said. “We have played well defensively all season and we did again tonight. The defense did jump off sides a couple of times.”