Belton-Honea Path (2-4, 1-0) escaped its first close game of the season on Friday at West-Oak, 21-20. Before then, the Bears had lost the previous three games that were decided by two points or less — or a total of four points.

“We’re still a long ways from playing our best football game this past Friday night,” coach Wayne Green said.

Four starters missed the West-Oak game because of three suspensions and an injury, but Green expects all of them to be back this week against visiting Pickens.

“If we can ever get all the starters out there at the same time and on the same page, we’ll see what it looks like,” Green said.

Part of the sluggish start to Friday’s game was because junior quarterback Nino Woolridge wasn’t medically ruled out (knee injury) until 3:15 p.m., which gave the coaching staff little time to prepare sophomore Cody Spence, who was 12-for-25 passing with three interceptions.

“It was a shock,” Green said. “We hadn’t spent a lot of time with Cody in the first group. Plus Cody played a half in the JV game Thursday night.”

Woolridge practiced Monday, and has a doctor’s appointment Tuesday afternoon, which will determine his playing status against Pickens.