Bearcats stomp Warriors in season opener
The Pilot Point Bearcats traveled to Bonham last Friday to take on the Bonham Purple Warriors for the first game of the 2025 season, and the Bearcats left with a dominant 56-3 victory.
The Warriors escaped Massey with a 7-6 win last season, but this year the Bearcats rolled into Warrior Stadium and took whatever they wanted from their opponent, racking up over 500 yards of offense and 8 touchdowns.
“Our kids came out and played well from the opening kickoff and dominated the game,” said Chad Worrell, Pilot Point athletic director and head football coach. “Our offense moved the ball well. I don't think we punted until the third quarter and only had one punt in the game. Defensively, we swarmed to the football. [Bonham] had one drive aided by penalties, and I want to clean up the penalties, but overall, we were super pleased with the kids’ effort.”
Pilot Point received the opening kickoff, and a 19-yard return by David Pickrel set up the Bearcats’ offense at their own 41yard line.
The Bearcats ran five straight running plays, which were capped off by a 7-yard touchdown run by running back Josh Chumley, putting Pilot Point on top 6-0 in the first quarter after a missed extra point attempt.
Bonham’s next possession would be ended by a turnover after Pilot Point defensive back Ashton Williamson intercepted a pass.
Three plays later, Chumley crashed into the end zone again from 7 yards out for his second touchdown, and after a successful extra point kick, the Bearcats led 13-0.
The Warriors were able to get on the scoreboard on their second drive with a 38-yard field goal, making the score 13-3 early in the second quarter.
The Bearcats wasted little time on their next drive when Chumley collected his third score of the game on a 6-yard touchdown run, extending Pilot Point's lead to 20-3.
After a three-and-out on the following Bonham possession, the Warriors punted the ball to the Bearcats’ 15-yard line, and on the first play of the drive for Pilot Point, Caden David galloped through the Warriors’ defense for an 85-yard touchdown.
Wide receiver Hunter Newman would help the Bearcats tack on two more scores before the half, with a 44-yard interception returned for a touchdown and a 10-yard rushing touchdown, sending the two teams into the locker room with Pilot Point leading 42-3.
The Bearcats scored two more times in the second half, with fullback Pickrel finding the end zone from 23 and 32 yards out, sealing the 56-3 win for Pilot Point.
The Bearcats had a total of 503 yards of offense, led by David, who rushed for 194 yards on 7 carries, and Worrell said his team’s blocking was a big reason for the numbers.
“Anytime you rush for 500 yards, you have to credit the offensive line for that,” he said. 'They opened up the holes and made the blocks, and our backs blocked for each other as well, so it was a team effort.”
The Bearcats defense also held the Warriors to just 79 total yards, and Worrell also made sure to give credit to the Bearcats defensive line, which harassed Bonham’s offense all game long.
“Everybody played well, but our defensive line had pressure on their quarterback all night that resulted in some tackles for loss and created some turnovers,” Worrell said. “We ended up forcing three turnovers, and a lot of that was due to the defensive line’s pressure, so I thought we did a great job up front.”
After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Bonham last season, Worrell said the Bearcats appreciated returning the favor to the Warriors but added that his team is still focused on getting better every week.
“We enjoyed that win over the weekend, but we’ve put it behind us, to be honest with you,” he said. “We're focused on Callisburg and trying to get ready for Friday, but I hope our team gained some confi dence so that whenever they go out there and execute, they know that we’re not the same football team we were a year ago. They know that we’re better, and we can play with anyone.”
Assistant editor Martin Edwards contributed to this report
