BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Homecoming proved to be special for senior running back Willie Pollard, who scored four touchdowns as the Bradford High School football team defeated Keystone Heights 48-6 on Sept. 29 in the first District 6-2S game for both teams.
“My last (homecoming game),” Pollard said. “It’s going to be a big one to remember.”
The Tornadoes (5-0), who travel to play Class 4S Oakleaf (2-2) on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m., continued their strong play on defense and special teams, but it was a breakout game, really, for Pollard. Though he did have 100-plus-yard game this season, Pollard entered the Keystone averaging 64 yards per game. He had crossed the goal line only once.
Pollard rushed for 186 yards on 22 carries against the Indians. His fourth touchdown put his team up 28-0 in the third quarter.
“I came into this game with a chip on my shoulder,” Pollard said. “I had something to prove. It was amazing.”
Bradford Head Coach Jamie Rodgers said, “I’m happy for Willie. It was a little slower start for him this year through the first three or four games compared to last year when he took over for Manny (Covey) after his injury. It was good to see him get going.”
The Tornadoes had two 100-yard rushers, with quarterback Dae’Jon Shanks gaining 134 yards on 13 carries.
“The offensive linemen did a great job tonight blowing some holes open in the center,” Rodgers said. “We thought they were going to try to take the perimeter runs away from us tonight. We thought that was going to soften it up a little bit on the inside. It ended up working out for us.”
Keystone (2-3), which hosts fellow Class 2S team Crescent City (3-2) for homecoming on Friday, Oct. 6, at 7:30 p.m., was held to 61 yards and finished with 0 yards rushing. The Indians’ defense did recover two fumbles in the first half, but the offense could do nothing to capitalize on either turnover. In the first half, Keystone had six three-and-out offensive series and committed six pre-snap penalties.
Still, it was only a two-score game until Bradford scored twice in the final three minutes of the first half.
“If we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot and do some silly stuff early, it’s a whole different ball game,” Keystone Head Coach Steve Reynolds said. “Who knows what happens?”
The Keystone defense jumped offsides on the first play from scrimmage, but then made a tackle for a 15-yard loss on a pass play. That eventually had the Tornadoes facing a third-and-19 play, but a 21-yard run by Shanks resulted in a first down at the Keystone 43. Bradford’s next play, though, was a fumble, which the Indians’ Brayden Wester recovered.
Keystone’s first series began the same way as Bradford’s, with a defensive-offsides penalty. First-and-5, though, became second-and-10 when running back Cartez Daniels was met in the backfield by the Tornadoes’ Torin Brazell for a 5-yard loss. The Indians punted after two incomplete passes.
Two consecutive runs by Shanks for a total of 13 yards got the Tornadoes started on what would be a nine-play, 42- yard touchdown drive. A 13-yard run by Pollard gave Bradford a first down at the Keystone 14. The Indians’ Wyatt Van Zant then tackled Elijah Kellum for a 1-yard loss on a pass play. After his 4-yard run set up third-and-7, Pollard had a 5-yard carry for first-and-goal at the 6. Shanks’ 4-yard run set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Pollard, who followed lead blocker Brazell into the end zone with 3:59 to play in the opening quarter. Dayton Roberts kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Bradford lead.
The Tornadoes got a sack from Brazell and a tackle for a 3-yard loss by Duke Lewis in forcing Keystone to punt on its second possession. Connor Guy’s 43-yard punt had Bradford’s offense starting a drive at its own 37.
After an illegal-procedure penalty, Pollard ripped off a 16-yard run. A holding penalty then put the Tornadoes into a long-yardage situation, but Pollard came through again with a 28-yard run to the Keystone 34. Shanks had a 19-yard run for another first down before completing an 8-yard pass to Chalil Cummings to the 8-yard line. Pollard then had two consecutive carries, with the second resulting in a 5-yard touchdown at the 10:30 mark of the second quarter. Roberts added the PAT for a 14-0 Bradford lead.
Bradford’s next offensive series ended with a fumble, which was recovered by Keystone’s Damien Dunlap at the Indians’ 42.
The Indians have now created 11 turnovers in four games.
“Tough, gritty kids who fight hard,” Reynolds said of his defensive players. “They didn’t lay down.”
Keystone was flagged for illegal procedure on the first play following the turnover. Daniels was then dropped by Chason Clark and others for a 5-yard loss. A second procedure penalty had the Indians needing 25 yards to gain a first down.
The Indians wouldn’t gain a first down until their second series of the second half (eighth series overall).
A 36-yard catch and run by Cummings (who finished with two receptions for 44 yards) put the Tornadoes into the red zone late in the first half, with Pollard scoring on a 12-yard run to make it a 20-0 game with approximately three minutes remaining until halftime. The PAT was no good.
Bradford was able to put more points on the board before going into the locker room when Branden Williams blocked a punt for a safety, making the score 22-0.
It was the third straight game the Tornadoes have blocked a punt or a field-goal attempt. Special teams have made plays in each game this season, including a kickoff return for a score in the opener against Baker and a recovery of a muffed punt for a score in the Tornadoes’ second game against Baldwin.
Rodgers praised Special-Teams Coach John Staples and the players for wanting to make an impact in that phase of the game.
“They take a lot of pride in it,” Rodgers said. “They talk about it during the week. They talk about what they want to do (in a game). That’s really cool.”
It was special teams making another impact early in the second half when a partially blocked punt set the Bradford offense up at the Keystone 34 for its first series of the third quarter. A couple of offsides penalties helped the Tornadoes move to the 20-yard line. Pollard had three straight carries, with gains of 3 and 7 yards before scoring on a 10-yard run and making it a 28-0 game at the 8:20 mark of the quarter. The extra point was no good.
The Indians answered with their sole scoring drive, which began with Baylor Ford completing two straight passes — one to Andru Siemer for 6 yards and one to Van Zant for 5 yards. A 14-yard reception by Siemer resulted in another first down at the Bradford 35. Ford then completed a 19-yard pass to Van Zant, putting Keystone at the 16-yard line.
A penalty wiped out an interception by Bradford’s Damarion Hankerson and gave Keystone a first-and-2 at the 8-yard line. After two runs netted 1 yard, Trey Jeffries was tackled for a 2-yard loss by Brazell. Bradford, though, jumped offsides on fourth down, giving the Indians a first down at the 4. Daniels would score three plays later on a 5-yard run to make it 28-6 with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter. The PAT was no good.
Siemer and Van Zant each finished with three receptions for 29 yards.
On the Tornadoes’ ensuing possession, Shanks had an 18-yard run to move Bradford past midfield, while a 17-yard run by Pollard resulted in a first down at the 15-yard line. Shanks scored on a run from there on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it a 34-6 game. The two-point conversion failed.
Keystone crossed midfield for the second time on its next possession and gained a first down at the Bradford 32 after a 15-yard penalty. The Tornadoes’ Tyler Berry tackled Darrion Grady for a 1-yard loss on a pass play to force the Indians into a third-and-11 play. Ford completed a pass to Van Zant before throwing an incompletion on fourth down.
Bradford put together a five-play scoring drive that featured runs of 21, 13 and 13 yards by Pollard. Shanks capped the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. Roberts added the extra point for a 41-6 lead fourth-quarter lead.
If Pollard’s not carrying the ball, he enjoys watching Shanks do so.
“It’s amazing seeing somebody else run it,” Pollard said. “When he gets going and takes off past me, I get to look at him like, ‘Ooh, he’s moving.’”
The Indians gained a first down on the first play of the ensuing series when Bradford was hit with a horse-collar penalty. Outside linebacker Jeremiah McKenzie then intercepted a pass, returning it 44 yards for the final score, with Roberts adding the PAT.
“That shows you his ability and his athleticism,” Rodgers said of McKenzie. “He played quarterback all (last) year for us. We rode him to the Final Four. Now, he’s a starter on defense.”
Bradford finished with 347 yards of offense to Keystone’s 61.
Rodgers said his team has some things to clean up, alluding to its two turnovers and 100-plus yards in penalties.
“That really put a damper on a big homecoming win,” Rodgers said. “What should’ve been a lot of fun didn’t turn into a lot of fun for me.”
Reynolds praised his team’s effort, saying, “They played hard. They didn’t quit. They kept fighting. Coach Reynolds has got to do a better job of getting them ready.”
