<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=16zuyU_0vF07HGd00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16zuyU_0vF07HGd00" width="650" height="433" ><figcaption>On Aug. 29, 2024, Bear Lake hosted Bellaire for the opening game of the season at Brethren High School. (Nick Cooper/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> BRETHREN — On Aug. 29, <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/sports/article/bear-lake-football-looks-competitive-west-19631319.php" rel="nofollow"> Bear Lake football </a> kept pace with a scrappy Bellaire team. The Lakers went shot-for-shot with the Eagles, but fell just short 32-28. The Lakers play their home games in Brethren as the Lakers do not have a home field located in <a href="https://bllakers.org/" rel="nofollow"> Bear Lake. </a> However, the Lakers' faithful fans traveled well with consistent cheering and encouragement from the home team. Both Grady and <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/sports/article/meet-bear-lake-sophomore-myles-harless-18209242.php" rel="nofollow"> Myles Harless </a> Bear Lake football found the end zone in the contest. Grady Harless threw a touchdown pass while Myles Harless scored on a rushing attempt. Grady Harless also snagged an interception on defense for the Lakers. Bear Lake held the lead late in the game, leaning on a strong defensive effort and withstanding the&nbsp;Bellaire defense thanks to the strength of&nbsp;Grady Harless' arm and legs. "We execute really good," said quarterback Grady Harless. Grady Harless was often rushed in the throwing pocket, yet he frequently made well above average plays with both his legs and his arm. He found his brother Myles Harless on multiple occasions; some of their connections came at the biggest moments in the game. In crunch time, the Lakers could not stop Bellaire despite a strong pass rush and strength up the middle for Bear Lake. Bear Lake's effort never&nbsp;wavered nor did the teams' confidence. Grady Harless spoke of the need for the team to have a stable team approach. "We can't get too high, can't get too low.&nbsp;We need to bring that energy on every play. If you were watching the game, you would see it. We were executing good. We were rolling. In the&nbsp;second half, we didn't execute and that's what happens when you don't execute," said&nbsp;Grady Harless. Bear Lake's strong performance entered a territory that saw the team in control of its own destiny late in the game, something that the team has not been frequently familiar with. "We don't have a long history of being ahead in our short history. We usually are behind at that point. So learning to close the game is something we got to work on. And I got to do better as a coach, getting them ready for those situations so that we we know how to execute emotionally and physically," said <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/sports/article/bear-lake-head-football-coach-breaks-team-18259344.php" rel="nofollow"> Bear Lake head coach Sam Mullet. </a> The Lakers entered the game having won just one in 2023, but it appeared that Bear Lake was on the cusp of beginning the season with a victory. Bear Lake's next contest is at&nbsp;Suttons Bay, beginning at 7 p.m. on Sept. 6. </div></body>

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Photos: Lakers on short end of heart-breaker

Bear Lake holds serve with Bellaire in week one of the high school football season.