Bainbridge High School Bearcats head football coach Ed Pilcher liked the poise his team showed Saturday night in coming back from an early 14-0 deficit in Warner Robins to post a 28-24 Region 1-AAAA victory over the Houston County High School Bears.

“We made some defensive adjustments early and played well the rest of the game.” Pilcher said Monday morning. “Houston County came out in a formation that we had not seen them in on film and we had difficulty adjusting to it.

“They had a numbers advantage on one side. We played well defensively after we adjusted.”

“Our young men really stayed focused, scoring a touchdown late in the first quarter and two more in the second quarter to take a 21-14 halftime lead,” he said. “After Houston County tied it up 21-21 in the third quarter, then went ahead 24-21 with a field goal early in the fourth quarter, a lot of people did a good job on Damian Bouie’s long 97-yard winning touchdown run. The line blocked well and he found the opening and broke away.

“Our defense also came up big, holding Houston County to a field goal rather then a touchdown on their last scoring drive. While we gave up 24 points, I think our defense played pretty well overall. All three of their touchdowns were from short distances.”

Bainbridge running back Terry Lewis pulled in the second half kickoff near his own goal line and returned it all the way for an apparent touchdown but it was called back for a block in the back.

“Having that second half kickoff return called back really turned things around,” Pilcher said. “If the run had stood up, we could have been ahead by a touchdown, Instead we fumbled deep in our territory, and they went in to score and tie it up.”

Pilcher said he thought his kickers had another good night.

“Punter Paul Soden did a great job fielding a bad snap and getting a punt away,” Pilcher said. “He also had a long punt that had a good bounce.

“Place kicker Daniel Provence did a good job again Friday night. He kicked off well, made all his extra points, and slipped on a field goal attempt from a wet area on the hash mark.”

In conclusion, Pilcher talked about the importance of his team staying focused for Friday night’s 7:30 p.m. Region 1-AAAA homecoming game against the Warner Robins High School Demons at Centennial Field..

“Homecomng is always special,” Pilcher said. “It is special to the school, the community and the alumni. Our job during homecoming week is to stay focused and do our best on the field Friday night against Warner Robins.”