Photos: Berkley Bears Clinch 42-15 Homecoming Victory

It was a picture perfect fall night Friday at as the Bears beat the Lahser Knights 42-15 during 's 61st annual Homecoming game, kicking off a weekend of celebration.

The team's first touchdown came with 7:52 left in the first quarter and the momentum kept building after that.

"I think it's a pretty good Homecoming. The score's 21-7, so I can't complain," BHS senior Hayden Alpert said as the first half wound down.

During halftime, and the dance team kept the crowd entertained with a routine performed at midfield before the game action resumed.

The Bears already were riding high on a pair of touchdowns during the second half when Berkley senior running back and linebacker Omar Sitto made a 95-yard run to score another TD with 1:53 left in the game.

"We were just going to be content running the clock out," coach Jeff Burnside said, adding that during the team's previous few games the Bears have struggled to keep up their intensity during the second half. "There's been a mental block that doesn't allow us to put the pedal down and finish it off."

But that wasn't the case Friday night, giving the Homecoming crowd of students, parents and alumni something to cheer about in the stands, which were festooned with red and blue balloons.

Burnside said the matchup also was good preparation for the Bears' next opponent, North Farmington, which the team plays Sept. 27 in what is expected to be a defense-oriented contest.

"This was a good challenge for us," the coach said of playing the Knights on Friday. "We know they were going to come in and pound us. And they pounded us and pounded us."

Burnside sported a soaked sweatshirt as he spoke, having been doused with Gatorade by his players as the clock hit 0:00, with a score of 42-15.

He said the team's goal this season is to achieve a league championship.

The Bears' victory Friday was just the beginning of Homecoming weekend festivities. from 8 to 11 a.m. at and the big dance will be held at the school Saturday night.

Have Homecoming photos you'd like to share? E-mail Leslie.Ellis@patch.com and we'll add them to the gallery!

Correction: The final score was 42-15.