The Bainbridge High School football team was impressive in their 35-15 Friday night victory over Albany’s Westover High School Patriots at Centennial Field.

Bearcats Head Coach Ed Pilcher put the game in perspective when he said his team, which is now 2-1 on the season, is getting a little better every week.

It is truly unfortunate that senior All-State, All-Area and All-Region 1-AAAA punter and place kicker Keenan Adams, who suffered a leg injury against the Cairo High School Syrupmakers, is out for the rest of the season.

Keenan, son of Roy and Maggie Adams, is as good a punter and place kicker as I have seen in my 41 years of covering Bearcats football. He is also as good a young man as he is a football player.

The good news is that the injury will not affect Keenan’s college football career at Colorado State University. He earlier verbally committed to sign a national football letter of intent with Colorado State in February.

With Keenan out, a young place kicker was asked to step up Friday night and he performed extremely well.

Freshman place kicker Daniel Provence made all five of his extra point attempts with some distance to spare. He was also straight on but short on field goal attempts of 40 and 37 yards.

The Bearcats stepped it up on offense, defense and special teams Friday night.

With eight different running backs sharing the load, the Bearcats rushed for 277 yards. Leading the way was junior Aaron Hall with 16 carries for 103 yards, a 6.4 yards per carry average and two touchdowns.

Junior quarterback Steven Bench also had an excellent night running the football in the Bearcats split-back veer offense.

Bench carried the ball nine times, picked up 49 yards and averaged 5.4 yards a carry.

It was good to see Bearcats sophomore defensive back Cameron McDowell return an interception for 45 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Cameron’s father, my good friend Derik McDowell, a 1990 Bainbridge High School graduate, was an excellent defensive back in his own right during his Bearcats playing days.

The Bearcats will have an open date this week before beginning their Region 1-AAAA schedule Friday, Sept. 24 against the Northside Warner Robins High School Eagles at Centennial Field. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m.

Our football players, Pride of Decatur County Marching Bearcat Band members and cheerleaders all make Bearcats Friday night’s special at Centennial Field.

The Bearcats fan turnout has also been special this year. They are to be commended for coming out and filling the home stands week after week.

The football team, band and cheerleading squad are all made up of outstanding Decatur County young people and they deserve our support.