BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Quarterback Dae’Jon Shanks rushed for two touchdowns to help the Bradford High School football team take a 21-0 lead over host Baker County on Aug. 26 before the game was suspended with approximately five minutes remaining in the first half due to the weather.
As of now, the game will resume from the 4:42 mark in the second quarter on Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6 p.m. in Macclenny. That week was supposed to be a bye for both teams.
Bradford, which will host fellow Class 2S team Baldwin on Friday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m., got off to a fast start after the opening kickoff was delayed by lightning. Shanks completed a 29-yard pass to Jarrin Alexander for a first down at the Baker 31. Shanks then had a 29-yard run, which set up his own 2-yard touchdown. Hayden Hughes kicked the PAT as the Tornadoes took a 7-0 lead approximately two minutes into the game.
The Wildcats went three-and-out on their first series, but after recovering a Bradford fumble, Baker gained first downs on a personal-foul facemask penalty and a 25-yard run. Baker went on to pick up another first down at the 11, but the Bradford defense then recorded tackles behind the line of scrimmage on three plays as the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs at the 23-yard line.
A 25-yard run by Willie Pollard, with an additional 15 yards tacked on because of a Baker penalty, had the Tornadoes on the move, with a first down at the Baker 37. A 10-yard run by Pollard and a 24-yard reception by Alexander helped move the Tornadoes to the 1-yard line, setting up a Manny Covey touchdown run with 1:31 left in the first quarter. Hughes added the PAT for a 14-0 lead.
Baker went three and out on the following series, with Torin Brazell setting the tone for the Bradford defense with a tackle for an 8-yard loss on first down.
The next time the Wildcats had the ball, they fumbled, with Bradford recovering at the Baker 34-yard line. Two runs by Pollard moved the Tornadoes to the 24, while two runs by Shanks set up first-and-goal at the 8. Two carries by Covey set up Shanks’ 1-yard touchdown run at the 4:42 mark of the second quarter. After Hughes’ PAT, it was 21-0.
As the teams took to the field for the ensuing kickoff, lightning forced the officials to send them into the locker rooms. At approximately 9 p.m., the decision was made to suspend the game.
Shanks rushed for 45 yards on seven carries, while completing 2 of 4 passes for 53 yards. Alexander caught both passes.
Pollard added 49 rushing yards on five carries as the Tornadoes averaged 8 yards per play en route to amassing 169 total yards.
Bradford’s defense made seven tackles behind the line of scrimmage as the Wildcats gained 41 yards — a 2-yards-per-play average.
The Tornadoes will now attempt to put their first official result into the win-loss column against a Baldwin team that opened its season with a 34-14 win over Wolfson on Aug. 26. The Indians defeated Bradford 38-21 last year, going 7-4, with a 1-1 record in the playoffs.
