Keenan Phillips scored three touchdowns as the Bainbridge Bearcats routed Eagles Landing Christian Academy 55-3.

The Bearcats ran away with the lead early and didn’t look back, ending the first half with a score of 28-0 

“We gave great effort tonight,” said Head Coach Jeff Littleton. “We were very intense,… the intensity and the effort is what’s going to get us over the top.”

The senior running back Phillips scored all three touchdowns in the first half.

“I expect it. I feel like I’m a top ten back in the state,” Phillips said.

The Bearcats’ other scores came from senior wide receiver Antavious Murphy, senior quarterback Cam Sanders, junior defensive back TaShaun Carter, sophomore running back Markavion Johnson-Smith, freshman wide receiver Javeen Breedlove and seven successful extra points from kickers Nicholas Tyre and Riggs Rentz.

Defensively, the Bearcats oppressed the Eagles Landing and held them to three points. The Bainbridge defense recorded two interceptions — one returned for a touchdown — a fumble recovery and a blocked punt.

“Having fun,” Defensive Coordinator Joe Dollar said about how his defense can continue the elevated level of play. “The kids are enjoying it. They’re trying to get to the ball. It’s contagious when good things start happening.” 

Wide receiver Murphy recorded the fumble. He lined up at defensive back for the play. Eagles Landing running back Brandon Hood broke free down the left sideline with only green grass in front of him. 

Murphy chased Hood down over 50 yards to make a diving tackle and stripped the ball at the three-yard line. Senior defensive back Jace Weaver recovered and returned the fumble more than 20 yards. 

Defensive back Carter recorded the first interception of the night in the third quarter. Carter returned the interception down the right sideline for a touchdown, making the score 41-0. Junior defensive back Antayvion Harris brought in the second interception, returning it 37 yards to the three-yard line. 

Senior linebacker Don’Terrious Williams recorded the Bearcat’s blocked punt in the first half. The Bearcats’ offense capitalized on the turnovers and blocked punt, scoring on each ensuing drive.

The Bearcats travel to Coffee High School this upcoming Friday for their next game. Kickoff is at 7:30

ELCA is an AA private Christian School in McDonough, GA. Littleton described ELCA as a program with a “rich tradition,” backed up by the program’s four consecutive single A private state championships from 2015-2018. 

Littleton said he focused on intensity and execution during the week of practice leading up to the game. 

“You win Friday night Monday through Thursday by preparing,” Littleton said. “You do that with intensity, and you do that with execution.”

The Chargers have two three-star recruits on their squad: Senior offensive tackle Favour Edwin and senior running back Brandon Hood. This season is Edwin’s first playing football. The 6-8 290-pound Tackle was born in Nigeria and moved to the United States in 2021 with hopes of playing college basketball. 

“The thing is, every gym we went into, the referee’s like, ‘Hey son, do you play football?’ The other dudes, ‘Hey man, do you?'” Edwin described in an interview with FanNation’s Brooks Austin. “So everybody, they’ve been putting it in my head right from when I stepped into the States. Like, ‘Man, you should try this.'”

Edwin has five offers on the table, most notably one from Alabama. Hood has 19 offers, including LSU, Michigan St., Penn St., Tennessee, Auburn and more.

“One person is not going to make a difference in a game of eleven people,” Littleton said about preparing for the matchup. “You’ve got to make sure your technique and fundamentals are sound.”