The Anson High School Bearcats eked out a Homecoming victory against the Sun Valley High School Spartans on Friday, 30-28.

"[I'm] real proud of our kids effort," head coach Luke Hyatt said in an e-mail Sunday. He praised the fans for their support during the game and the atmosphere they helped create.

Both teams scored early. Brandon Ellerbe ran more than half the length of the field for the Bearcats' first touchdown. The score was 7-7.

The short passes that would serve the Spartans so well helped them answer quickly, going up 14-7 with six minutes left in the first quarter.

Quarterback Jordan Hildreth stepped up for the first of several times in the game. He made a 53-yard rush in the next drive to put the Bearcats within striking distance.

Anson was forced to settle for a field goal with less than a minute remaining in the first quarter.

Anson put itself in the lead with another rushing touchdown by Hildreth with 4:49 left in the half. The point after touchdown failed and the Bearcats were up 16-14.

A botched punt by Sun Valley put Anson in enemy territory from the start. Ellerbe rushed for his second touchdown of the evening with 0:49 left in the half.

At halftime, the score was 23-14.

The second half was heavy in penalties for Anson. Sun Valley drew first blood, narrowing the Bearcats lead to two points.

Sun Valley's point after touchdown attempt with just over a minute to go was blocked, but a penalty against Anson gave the Spartans a second chance. They capitalized on the opportunity, 23-21.

Anson answered early in the fourth quarter, with a touchdown pass to Jonathan Hough with 11:16 left in the game.

Sun Valley gave itself new hope with a touchdown pass minutes later, narrowing the gap to 30-28.

In the next drive, Hildreth went down clutching his leg after gaining a first down. Ellerbe took over as quarterback.

"Jordan is fine. [He] cramped up a little," Coach Hyatt said.

Hildreth would return again, briefly, rushing the ball to the Spartans' 11-yard line. Shortly after, a fumble would be recovered by Sun Valley.

Penalties and passes pulled the Spartans down the field in the two minutes remaining. With five seconds to go, the Spartans attempted a field goal but it was no good.

"Getting this win to start our conference season is great," Coach Hyatt said. "We didn't play our best tonight, but our kids played hard and made plays when we had to."

"Sun Valley has a great football team," he added. "They played hard and were tough all night."

Hildreth finished the game with 7-8 passing for 76 yards. He threw one touchdown pass and one interception.

Ellerbe was 1-1 for 54 yards passing.

Hildreth rushed eight times for 126 yards and one touchdown. Ellerbe rushed 12 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns.

Maurice Copeland rushed 16 times for 67 yards. Overall, the Bearcats had 43 carries for 321 yards.

Hough had six receptions for 118 yards and one touchdown.

The Bearcats play Weddington High School Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. at home.

Coach Hyatt warned the Bearcats will have to watch out for the team's "big time" quarterback, Anthony Boone, who has committed to Duke University.

"It will be a big game for us again, but every game we play is a big game," Hyatt said. "We just need to have a great week of practice and keep getting better each time we go out."