Third Time's A Charm
Bears pull out triple overtime win
By Anne Marie Kyzer Staff Writer

Hammett, 14, posted the winning points on a two-point conversion in the Bears' triple overtime victory over Harlem Friday night.

The Burke County High School Bears (3-2) turned a botched handoff into a winning play in their triple over time victory at Harlem High School Friday night.

Senior quarterback Tyler Hammett roared into the end zone on a two-point conversion on the last play of the game to give their Bears a 15-13 win over the Bulldogs. Burke County had just answered an overtime Bulldog touchdown with one of their own. Junior Rodney Moye sprinted over the goal line to tie the game, and the Bears opted to go for two after the touchdown.

They lined up in a formation Hammett said they hadn't been in all night and nerves struck.

"I was supposed to hand it off up the middle. It was a busted play," Hammett said after the game amidst a rush of congratulatory slaps on the back. "God was with me, and He pulled me through."

Hammett's dash around the outside and into the corner of the end zone kept the Bears from a fourth overtime series.

The Bears were glad to put this game behind them after spinning their wheels in regulation play.

The Bears hadn't scored since their first possession of the game when it looked as if they might run away with it.

Senior running back Quentin Holmes ran in the touchdown after a steady series of passing and rushing plays that yielded three first downs for the Bears. Nathan Chance's kick was good to put the Bears up 7-0 with about two and half minutes left in the first.

The Burke County defense made short order of Harlem's next four drives, but the Bulldogs bit back as the half came to a close and put seven of their own on the board.

Despite good field position, the Burke County offense wasn't able to move the ball into the end zone again.

Bears head coach Eric Parker saw his team come close to the goal line a number of times but to no avail.

"We just got beat up front tonight," he said. "(Harlem) stepped up. They made plays and made the right adjustments."

Hammett saw it, too.

"We punched first and scored," Hammett said looking back on the hard-fought win. "But we fell into a lull. The offense didn't capitalize on (Harlem's) mistakes. We got into the red zone, but we couldn't punch it in."

The Bears made a strong defensive showing. They only allowed Harlem to chalk up three first downs in the second half. Alphonso Gillette stopped the Bulldogs short on their first possession in the third quarter with an interception.

For the game, Junior Arsenio Strong led the Bears with 11 tackles, and Senior Bryant Wesby tallied nine, two of those for a loss.

Senior Tim Prophet recorded seven tackles, and junior Bobby Burum and sophomore Terrell Brigham had six each. Burum also went on to intercept the ball on Harlem's first overtime possession.

WHO'S NEXT?

The Bears begin region play Friday night when they host Liberty County High School in the Bear Den at 7:30 p.m. The Panthers enter the match up 4-1. Their only loss was to the McIntosh County Academy Buccaneers, who went 8-2 last year and were runners up for the Region-2AA title. Liberty County is coming off a 28-8 victory over Glenn Hills. They beat Harlem two weeks ago 32-0.

Still, the Bears' record against Liberty County is 2-1, and they beat the Panthers the last time they ventured into the Bear Den.