BHP Outlast MVP in the Class AAA Upper State Championship Game

Larry Gamble

HSSR Photo Editor

Simpsonville – The SCHSL Class AAA Upper State semi-final was expected to be a close game between brand new Mountain View Prep (MVP) and Belton-Honea Path (BHP) who is once again looking at a season that could take them to the state championship game. This year, both teams enter the Upper State championship game with 12 wins, MVP undefeated and BHP with only one loss. 

In the first quarter, it seemed neither team was going to take charge and run away with the game early. Several three and outs by both sides, then with a minute left in the 1st Quarter BHP’s Clemson signee Marquise Henderson took the ball 32 yards for the first score of the game and the PAT by Christian Bridwell put BHP up 7-0. That was enough to spark MVP.

After the ensuing kick off and into the 2nd quarter, MVP drove from their 15 to the BHP 12 where junior RB Jaylen McGill took ball in for the score and with Henry Phillips PAT tied the game at 7-7.  Again, the defenses prevailed for the next couple possessions as neither team mounted a successful drive. MVP senior duo of QB Drummond Bryson and WR Washington Kaevon connected for a 36 yard TD to lift MVP to a 13-7 lead with 2:47 to go. On the PAT, BHP’s speedy DB Korikus Cowan blocked Phillips kick. 

With time running out in the first half, BHP fumbled and MVP recovered at their 48. Drummand leads his team to get inside the 5 yard line but the drive stalls. On 4th down, Phillps field goal is good. The half ends with MVP up 16-7.

The cold temperatures were a factor with game time temperature at 35 degrees and by the start of the 3rd quarter it was below freezing.  The only scoring action in the 3rd quarter was a BHP’s Bridwell making a 38 yard field goal cutting the MVP lead to 16-10.

The bulk of the 4th quarter continued in a defensive duel until the last five minutes of the game. With 4:50 to go in the game, junior QB Noah Thomas on a designed play action passes to Henderson for a 30 yard TD and with Bridwell’s PAT gave BHP the lead 17-16.  With just 2:40 left in the game, both teams fought hard to secure a win.

With 2:31 to play, Henderson gets a block and goes 81 yards for a TD and Bridwell makes the PAT. BHP goes up 24-16. On the kickoff, MVP’s junior DB/WR Jacobie Smith returns the kickoff 78 yards for the TD. The attempt at a two point conversion fails and the score is BHP 24, MVP 22.

In true rugby fashion, with just 7 seconds left on the clock, MVP tried a sweep play that did not fool the Bears defense. A poorly timed lateral, resulted in a fumble that Marquise Henderson scooped up and returned 22 yards with time expired for a walk off TD. This gave the Bears a 30-22 victory and their first return to the championship game since 2004.

After the game, MVP head coach Grey Ramsey shared with the HSSR, getting this far with a new team is special and biggest disappointment is not getting to play another week. Coach Ramsey expressed great praise for the team coming together the way they and taking the season one week at a time. 

For BHP, this win ends a 20 year drought for earning the ticket to the state championship. In 2023, the Bears lost to Daniel in the Upper State title game and Daniel then went on defeat Camden for the state championship. The last time BHP played in the state championship game was 2004, that team was led by coach Wayne Green and went 15-0 that season.

For BHP coach Russell Blackston, this is his 14th season with the Bears with a 134-43-0 record and claiming region champions five times and consistently making to the playoffs.  Coach Blackston praise his team and their determination to win despite the freezing temperatures. Next up for the Bears, they face Oceanside Collegiate at SC State University in Orangeburg, SC on Saturday, Dec. 14th with kickoff at Noon.