Bainbridge head football coach Ed Pilcher thought his team played hard, but made some costly mistakes on both sides of the ball, in their 31-0 Region 1-AAAA loss to Northside-Warner Robins on Saturday.

“Offensively we had some turnovers and defensively we missed some tackles,” he said.

Pilcher talked about a key play in the second quarter that could have sent the Bearcats to the locker room down by just three points at halftime.

“Defensive back Rodney Glenn intercepted a pass and returned it 92 yards for a touchdown, but the official called linebacker B.J. Cheatem for a block-in-the-back, nullifying the play” Pilcher said. “I did not see it, but you have to go with the official’s call. If Rodney’s touchdown had stood, we could have gone to halftime down just 10-7, rather than 17-0.

“I’m not taking anything away from Northside Warner Robins. They are an outstanding team.”

Pilcher also commented on a third-quarter confrontation between the two teams, which led to one player being ejected from each team. Bainbridge’s starting offensive tackle, junior Madison Malone, was ejected Saturday and will also miss Friday night’s home game against Hardaway, per Georgia High School Association rules.

“The incident was unfortunate, but it just happened in the heat of battle,” he said. “There was nobody running their mouth or trash-talking. Both teams just got back to playing.”

Pilcher said one of two sophomores, Chris Johnson or Tate Griffin will start in Malone’s place this week against Hardaway.

Bearcats wide receiver and punt and kickoff returner A.J. Miller injured his shoulder Saturday, but Pilcher is hopeful he will be able to start Friday by the 7:30 p.m. kickoff time.