BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford High School’s football team won the District 6-2S championship in emphatic fashion, scoring five first-half touchdowns, creating five turnovers and holding the visiting Palatka Panthers to approximately 30 yards in a 42-0 win on Oct. 27.
“That’s definitely the most dominant game I’ve ever been a part of,” linebacker/tight end Chason Clark said.
The Tornadoes (9-0), who conclude the regular season with a home game against Suwannee on Friday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m., had an easy time wrapping up an automatic playoff berth, setting the tone in a big way early. Bradford needed approximately four and a half minutes to put three touchdowns on the board, with its defense forcing two turnovers on Palatka’s first two possessions.
“We come out every day at practice and work hard and get everything done that we need to so we can dominate like we did tonight,” said defensive lineman Trente Jenkins, who scored on the first turnover of the game.
Defensive back Chalil Cummings, who also plays wide receiver, said Bradford’s defensive performance is all about preparation.
“At practice, we go hard all the time,” Cummings said. “All gas, no brakes.”
Opponents have scored a total of 39 points against Bradford, which recorded its second straight shutout and third in its last four games.
The Tornadoes, who are third in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2S power rankings, now have 13 shutouts in their last 23 games.
“Insane,” Bradford Head Coach Jamie Rodgers said. “That’s kind of what we’ve hung our hat on the last couple of years. It’s fun to watch good defensive football, especially when you’re a defensive-minded guy.”
When asked if people have seen the best this defense can do, Jenkins said, “No. We’ve still got work to do.”
A Bradford defense that can play any better would be a scary thought for an opponent, especially after witnessing to the start of the game against Palatka. The Panthers (7-2) received the opening kickoff and had good field position at their own 45.
The good news for the visitors ended there.
Bradford’s Jorden Daniels made a tackle for a 2-yard loss on first down. A pass play on second down resulted in a 4-yard loss on a tackle by Michael Oliver. Torin Brazell caused a fumble on third down, with Jenkins scooping up the ball and returning it more than 30 yards for a touchdown.
“My eyes just got big,” Jenkins said.
Declan Hense kicked the extra point for a 7-0 lead at the 10:39 mark of the first quarter.
Palatka’s next series began with the Tornadoes’ Duke Lewis making a tackle for a 3-yard loss. Two plays later, the Panthers lined up to go for it on fourth-and-6. Quarterback Tommy Offord was able to get the Tornadoes to jump offsides, setting up fourth-and-1 at the Panthers’ own 41. Lewis sacked Offord and caused a fumble, which was recovered by Daniels.
One play later, Dae’Jon Shanks threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Cummings with 9:10 to play in the first quarter. Hense added the PAT for a 14-0 lead.
Bradford’s Jeremiah McKenzie made a tackle for a 4-yard loss on the first play of Palatka’s third series. The Panthers apparently decided they needed to flip field position before things got worse, with Offord performing a quick kick on third down.
The punt had Bradford starting its second drive at its own 22, but the Tornadoes needed just three plays to increase their lead. A 50-yard run by Brian Cliffin, with an additional 15 yards tacked on because of a penalty, set Bradford up at the Palatka 11. Shanks scored on a
run from there at the 7:19 mark of the first quarter. The score stood at 21-0 after Hense’s PAT.
At that point, Palatka’s offense had run nine plays for minus-13 yards.
“We came out of that locker room ready to play, and it really showed,” Clark said.
The Panthers’ Arterrian Godfrey returned a short kickoff 13 yards to the Bradford 45. Palatka then picked up 4 yards on a run. After an illegal-procedure penalty, Clark made a tackle for a 2-yard loss. Jalen Williams then had a 4-yard sack to force Palatka to punt.
Palatka went three-and-out on its next series as well, with Jenkins making a tackle for a 2-yard loss and Jyquez Cason breaking up a pass. Cason fielded the ensuing punt at his own 19 and returned it 81 yards for touchdown and a 27-0 lead 21 seconds into the second quarter. The PAT was no good.
“That was probably the nail in the coffin — the punt return for a touchdown,” Rodgers said. “You saw the wind coming out of their sails a little bit.”
Cason has been a standout on special teams this year. He entered the game having blocked two field goals and a punt.
“He might be the special-teams player of the year,” Rodgers said.
Cummings said, “He’s at it every day. He doesn’t slack off in practice. He goes hard in everything he does.”
Bradford, which recorded 11 of its 13 tackles for loss in the first half, dropped Palatka’s Cartaveon Valentine for a 12-yard loss on a reverse on the Panthers’ next possession. The Panthers would pick up a first down at the Bradford 27 on a roughing-the-passer penalty. Palatka gained no yardage on the following three plays and attempted a 44-yard field goal, which was well short.
The next time Palatka had the ball, the Tornadoes forced a fumble, which put the Bradford offense at the Panthers’ 31. Three plays was all Bradford needed to find the end zone, with Elijah Kellum catching a 21-yard touchdown pass from Shanks. Shanks added a successful run on the two-point conversion for a 35-0 lead with 1:41 to play in the first half.
Bradford opened the second half with a five-play, 57-yard scoring drive that featured a pair of 14-yard runs by Cliffin and McKenzie. McKenzie, who replaced Shanks at quarterback, capped the drive with a 24-yard touchdown run. Hense added the PAT.
The rest of the game went fast as a running clock was employed due to the 42-point margin. Bradford still had time enough to create two more turnovers, with J.T. Hood intercepting a pass and Jaleal Mosley recovering a fumble.
As good as the defense has been, the Bradford offense is scoring an average of four touchdowns per game. The Tornadoes have 10 offensive scores in the last two games.
Bradford rushed for 231 yards against Palatka, with Cliffin reaching the 100-yard mark. The back averaged approximately 13 yards per carry.
“Our offense is just getting better and better,” Rodgers said. “They’re starting to fire on all cylinders up front. They believe they can block anybody. That’s a fun place to be, too.”
It was the third straight game in which Shanks has accounted for at least three touchdowns rushing and passing.
“He’s just getting better,” Rodgers said. “He’s locked in during the week at practice. He’s getting the game plan down. He’s able to get everybody else right. Those are the important things. That’s what a quarterback does.
“We’re starting to climb. We’re starting to get a little bit better each week. That’s where you want to be when it’s week 10.”
Winning a district title changes nothing in Bradford’s approach to its next game. Cummings said it’s business as usual, with the players staying humble and putting in the hard work at practices.
“We’re fixing to celebrate tonight, ice up tomorrow and be ready on Monday,” he said.
The Tornadoes host a Suwannee team that handed them their only loss of the regular season in 2022. The Bulldogs (6-2), who defeated Bradford 10-7 last season, are coming off two straight losses (38-13 to Madison County and 24-21 to Wakulla).
Suwannee is 12th in the FHSAA’s 2S power rankings.
“The kids will be locked in,” Rodgers said. “They know what’s at stake.”
