Beech Tree News Network

The BCMS 8th Bears football team won the Division 3 West Region One Championship in a defensive struggle Saturday over the Mayfield Middle School Cardinals by a score of 8-0 at the Stadium of Champions in Hopkinsville, Ky.
The Mayfield Middle School Cardinals high powered offense who had disposed of two playoff opponents earlier this month by scores of 44-6 over Owensboro Cath; and 30-6 win over Caldwell Co. Middle.  The BCMS Bears defense rose to the challenge and kept the Cardinals out of the end zone all day long, shutting down a strong Cardinal running attack.
The game was a scoreless tie 0-0 at the half, and the third quarter of play was a stalemate; and many in the crowd including the coaching staffs felt like this one is headed to overtime.  But on the first play of the fourth quarter with the Cardinals forced to punt from the back of its own end zone; the snap sailed over the punters head for a safety. Bears now took a 2-0 lead with 7:55 left to play in the game.
           
The Cardinals then forced to kick to BCMS after the safety; Rex Henderson returned the kickoff across midfield to the thirty-eight yard line with great field position.  Five plays later behind strong running and blocking; quarterback Rex Henderson scrambled around right end and broke free for a twenty yard touchdown run with 4:00 left on the clock. The two point conversion pass failed but the Bears now led 8-0 with the Cardinals running out of chances.
The Cardinals did mount a drive that crossed midfield, but the Bears defense again on a fourth and one slammed the door shut on the Cardinal running back, and the Bears took over on downs. Mayfield was forced to burn all three of its timeouts, in an attempt to get the ball back; but the Bears kept the ball on the ground and time expired.  The Bears entire Defensive unit has to be called out and recognized for the shutout.  Starting Defensive Lineup: BCMS Tackles: Seth Gaskey, Issac Flener;  Ends: Kaleb Hunt, Kristen White; Inside LB’s: Dillon Brosnan, Ty Smith; OLB- Caleb Casey, Kyle Casey; and defensive backs: Lake Cameron, Blake Graham, and Rex Henderson.    After the game Head Coach Lloyd Havens had praise for a great overall team effort as he addressed players, parents and fans.
The Bears now with an overall record of (12-0); move on to the KYMSFA- Ky. Middle School Football Association State Final Four, which begins on Saturday, Nov. 3 at two different sites.  All semi-finals and finals will be played at Lexington Catholic High School and or at Lexington Lafayette High School.  The State Championships will be played the following day on Sunday, November 4th.
The BCMS Bears opponent this Saturday, November 3, will be Lexington Christian Academy Middle School.  At release of article game time TBA.  More info will be released later in the week. For complete coverage tune into WLBQ 1570.
                 

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Photos courtesy of Tabby Havens, for Beech Tree News.