by John Kelley

The Bears lost a hard, tough game to the Indians last Friday night. When the dust finally settled, the Bears were on the bottom 44 to 27. The Bears started the first quarter with Scott fumbling on the first play. The defense recovered and held Fort White to four plays. The Indians moving the ball score first at six minutes into the quarter. On the kickoff return Rodney Scott smokes the Indians in an 89 yard foot race for the touch down. The Indians score once more and then again on another Scott fumble. Scott and the Bears come back in the second quarter to score on a four yard dash into the end zone. Cassidy adds the extra point and the Bears close the gap 20 to 13. The Indians score
once more in the second period. With less than two minutes in the half, Cassidy is called up for a 33 yard field goal attempt. Cassidy uncharacteristically misses and the half ends with Bears still trailing the Indians.

Follow up:

The second half starts with the Indians scoring on their first possession. Seven plays later Scott answers with a touch down and conversion. The score is 34 to 21. The second half of the game also was played under a multitude of yellow flags as tempers flared and frustrated coaches tried changing strategies as the teams received at least six personal fouls. It started when the Bears intercepted an Indian pass and took off downfield to score, the touch down was called back due to a flag in the backfield for clipping. The team and the coaches protested the call and the officials came to the sideline. While in a heated discussion with the Dixie coaching staff two more flags were thrown. Head coach Wilkerson was then singled out by the official and ordered off the field and out of the stadium, this was another first for the Bears as no Bear coach has been removed from the game in recent memory. The assistant coaching staff regrouped, settled the team down and again attempted to play ball. Fort White is given several more chances to score when the Bears turned over the ball on fumbles. By the end of the third quarter the Bears and the Indians were receiving penalties almost every play as the Indians forced the Bears into a passing strategy. Fort White scored with a field goal late in the third to push the score 37-21. The fourth quarter turned out to be a defensive battle for both teams. Fort White finally scores with around three minutes left to play. The Bears even in defeat still play as tough as ever, not giving in. The offense takes the ball and Keen connects a 70 yard pass to Scott. Scott drags two Indian defenders into the end zone to score one last time for the Bears.

The Coaches and the fans who attended the game agreed the Bears played with heart. Coach Wilkerson told the team “We have gotten better, but put this game behind us and make Homecoming count next week for the seniors, and then we have to get after Taylor.” Homecoming next week, come out show some spirit, watch the seniors play in front of the hometown crowd as they dismantle the Trojans. GO BIG RED!