True, it can be said that a good season ended in Athens Friday night when our Bears fell 48-37 to the Athens Academy Spartans on Slaughter Field. Still, when the dust cleared and the cleats were all put away, it was also a game that showed living proof of the resiliency and the guts of Coach Nick Perrotta's football team.
 
In recapping,  it was a game where HI was down 27-10 at half to an explosive team, only to claw its way back time and time again. 
 
The Bears scored 14 unanswered in third period to cut the lead to 27-24, and the rest of the game saw HI chip the lead to one score, only to have the Spartans up it to two. The 27-24 score held until the fourth quarter, though unfortunately we were often victims of a big play from the home team.
 
It was 7-0 after a quarter; HI's defense had a goal line stand when the Spartans had a 4^th-and-1 on our one. Still, the tough field position found Athens Academy in great position after our three-and-out, which lead to their first TD.
 
We answered, however, early in the second, when quarterback Ryan Woods scampered 48 yards to tie things. After they went up 14-7, Mitchell Bainbridge booted a 36-yard field goal to cut it the lead to 4, only to find the home team connecting on passes of 78 and 34 yards to give AA their halftime lead.
 
As for our four second half scores, Denim Stevens had an 8-yard scoring run, and Woods later hit Jake Berte for two TD strikes – one for 65 yards and the other from 17 or so. He also hit Kai Worthy for another scoring pass.

Other notes; Sam Chasteen had a good game and a key pass reception; Brayden Bailey had some excellent returns, both on the punt and kick-off teams. 
 
HI finishes at 8-4, only a year removed from a 5-6 season, and the Bears' Sweet 16 finish saw 22 players make All-Region and one- Bainbridge – named Special Teams Player of the Year.
 
Great season Bears.