The HoCo Bears opened 2023 at home against the Sumter Co Panthers out of Americus earlier tonight and the game got off to a rocky start for the host as they fumbled the ball on their first play from scrimmage that resulted in a scoop ‘n’ score for Sumter Co to give them the early 6-0 lead after the missed PAT.
The lead was brief however as the Bears scored the next 35 pts with a couple of touchdown passes from junior QB AJ Hill and a couple of catches from Ricardo Tarver along with Ryan Taleb getting into the mix with the scoring to give HoCo a 35-6 lead after one.
The Black, Silver, and White continued to pour it on the visitors as Cale Woodburn caught a 12 yd touchdown pass from AJ Hill and after the PAT; the score was 42-6 Bears in the second. Late in the half; AJ Hill found Ricky Johnson for a 77 yd passing touchdown and after the PAT; the score was 49-6 HoCo which they took into halftime.
The entire second half was played with a running clock and HoCo subbed in several JV players. The Panthers scored an offensive touchdown thanks to a 1 yd run by Ja’Kory Wise to make it 49-12 after the failed two-point try late in the third. The Bears scored one more time with 20 seconds left in the fourth when freshman QB Grey Dunlap punched it in from 2 yds out on the ground and the PAT made it 56-12 which would be the final score.
HoCo starts 2023 1-0 and will travel to Herb St. John Stadium next Friday to take on county rival Perry in a marquee matchup as the Panthers will open their 2023 season then. Sumter Co falls to 0-1 to start 2023 and will travel to take Westover in a week.
