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The Bainbridge Bearcats High School football team picked up their first road victory of the season as they defeated Shaw in Columbus 42-13 as the Bearcats move to .500 with a 4-4 record. The story of the night was the Bearcats offense as they continued to find their stride. 

As the Bearcats traveled to Columbus to take on the Shaw Raiders, the Bearcats entered looking for their first road victory against a Raiders team who was 3-0 at home and averaged almost 39 points per game as a host. 

Head Coach Jeff Littleton and the Bearcats were focused on starting fast and making their opponents have to play from behind and the Bearcats did exactly that on Friday night. The Bearcat offense struck first with a quick two-play drive as Keenan Phillips took a 45-yard carry to the end zone, giving the Bearcats a quick 7-0 lead. 

The Raiders, however, responded with a drive of their own as running back Jaylin Bass took a 51-yard carry to the end zone in the waning seconds of the first quarter. A blocked extra point attempt by Devon Smart kept the Bearcats in the driving seat, but only by one as they hung to a 7-6 lead entering the second quarter. 

The second and third quarters were dominated in all three phases by the Bearcats, but it all started with the offense. The passing game began to develop in the second quarter as Bo Smith spread the ball around to playmakers like Antavious Murphy. 

Smith capped off an eight play drive to start the second quarter as Smith hit Murphy in stride for a 43-yard touchdown strike, stretching the Bearcats lead to 14-6. 

After a defensive stop, Smith was able to find Murphy again at the end of a long, 76-yard drive for a ten yard touchdown as the Bearcats grabbed a 21-3 lead going into the second half. 

The Bearcat offense took to the ground in the second half as Trevious Freeman rushed for two touchdowns in the second half. Keenan Phillips also added to his day as he put the game away with a two-yard rushing touchdown at the end of the third quarter, giving the Bearcats a 42-6 lead going into the fourth quarter. 

The Raiders pushed across a late touchdown as Jaylin Bass took a 26-yard carry into the end zone but it was too late for the Raiders as the Bearcats cruised to a 42-13 win as they moved to 2-0 in their region. 

Bearcat running back Keenan Phillips added to his stellar season with a career day as he took 10 carries for 163 yards and two touchdowns. Phillips also led the team with plays above 10 yards with five plays going over first down yardage. 

Wide receiver Antavious Murphy also had a day to remember as he hauled in four receptions for 117 yards and two touchdown receptions. 

The Bearcats are winners of two straight as they move to 4-4 and remain undefeated in region play. As the Bearcats enter their second bye week of the season, they prepare for Hardaway at home on Friday, Oct. 28 as the BHS Athletic Department will host a 40-year reunion for the 1982 State Champions.