While watching  the Bainbridge High School Bearcats varsity and junior varsity teams play this football season,  one phase of their game has really impressed me.
I am talking about the quality and youth of their running backs. They  are led by freshman Dameon Pierce and sophomore  Dalvin Spivie.
Pierce runs hard and possesses breakaway speed. When he gets in the open field, you are not going to catch him. Spivie is the fastest of the two young runners. Two years ago, he dominated team after team while piling up touchdowns on runs, pass receptions and returns for  coach Heith Maxwell’s Bainbridge Middle School eighth grade Bearcats.
It was Spivie’s long breakaway run around the left side for a touchdown that proved to be the difference in the Bearcats 7-6 victory over the Monroe High School Tornadoes at Centennial Field. Spivie also contributed defensively by coming up from his linebacker position to make some key stops. He also blocked an extra point attempt against Americus-Sumter County.
Junior quarterback Elijah Tyler has managed the games very well. He runs very well and comes up with the key pass completions when they are needed. He ran three yards for a touchdown and threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Victor Bodison in the Bearcats’ 55-28 home victory over the Americus-Sumpter County High School Panthers. Bodison also had a big 83-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the game.
Special teams have also made their contributions to the Bearcats’ early season success. Junior place kicker Evan Oldaker, who booted the winning extra point against Monroe, is getting better and better at his trade every week.
Senior defensive end Hudson Reynolds has also impressed with the relentless pressure he puts on opposing quarterbacks.
When your offense, defense and special teams all gel together,  as they have for the Bearcats in recent weeks, good things are going to happen. I commend head coach Jeff  Littleton and his fine staff. They are doing an outstanding job, and I am anticipating that even more good things will happen for the Bearcats in the weeks to come.
I also want to congratulate coach Amy Thomas and her Bainbridge High School Lady Cats softball team on their advancement to next week’s State Class AAAA Tournament.