BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Iyen Addison and Jarell Harris each rushed for two touchdowns as the Bradford High School junior varsity football team capped an undefeated season with a 34-8 win over host Union County on Sept. 24.
The Tornadoes (4-0) got two turnovers from their defense, which held the Tigers scoreless until the game’s final drive.
Union received the opening kickoff and had to try to dig out of hole caused by a first-down fumble that resulted in a loss of 6 yards. Runs by Wyatt Elixson and Eli Llanes got the Tigers to a fourth-and-5 play. The offense remained on the field, with Elixson getting held to a 2-yard gain.
Bradford’s offense took over after the turnover on downs at the Union 27. The Tigers were penalized for encroachment and then picked up a personal-foul facemask penalty, giving the Tornadoes first-and-goal at the 7. Addison scored his first touchdown on a run from there, with Cy Cubbedge kicking the extra point for a 7-0 Bradford lead.
The Tigers were gifted a first down on their next series as quarterback Colt Thomas was able to draw the Tornadoes offsides. Elixson and Bo Thomas had runs of 8 and 13 yards, respectively, that resulted in two more first downs, with Thomas’ run putting Union at the Bradford 32. The promising drive ended with a fumble, which was recovered by the Tornadoes’ Henry Prescott.
Bradford needed just one play to increase its lead, with Tyler Bell catching a 62-yard touchdown pass from Cubbedge. Cubbedge added the PAT for a 14-0 lead as the first quarter was winding down.
The Tigers ran four plays on the ensuing series, with Bradford’s Tremeze White bringing pressure against Colt Thomas on a fourth-and-4 play that resulted in an incomplete pass.
That gave the Bradford offense the ball at the Union 38. Addison got the drive started with three straight carries for 14 yards. Union’s Bryce Lawton sacked Cubbedge for a 6-yard loss, which left the Tornadoes facing third-and-12. Addison had a 9-yard run and got the call again on fourth, sprinting for a 21-yard touchdown. The Tornadoes, after Cubbedge’s extra point, led 21-0.
Addison finished with 51 yards on six carries.
An 18-yard kickoff return by Llanes had the Tigers starting their next drive at their own 21. Runs by Elixson and Llanes, coupled with a facemask penalty, gave Union a first down at the 35. Elixson and Llanes had runs of 4 and 6 yards, respectively, to gain another first down.
Llanes, who rushed for 44 yards on 11 carries, later had a 7-yard run that resulted in a first down at the Bradford 44. The Tigers couldn’t advance any farther, with Bradford’s Caiden Carn intercepting a pass and preserving his team’s 21-0 lead at halftime.
Cubbedge, who was 2 of 5 for 88 yards, hooked up with Maliki Cobarris for a long gain deep into Union territory. Cobarris did fumble on the play, but Koy Hartley recovered for the Tornadoes, setting up first-and-goal at the 7. Harris then had two straight carries, with the second a 5-yard run that put him into the end zone and gave Bradford a 27-0 lead. The PAT was no good.
Kerion Boykin had an 18-yard kickoff return that had Union starting its first second-half series at its own 44. The Tigers lost 5 yards on a fumble, but runs by Boykin and Elixson set up fourth-and-4. Colt Thomas drew the Tornadoes offsides for a first down at the Bradford 45. Elixson and Lawton had runs of 5 and 7 yards, respectively, to pick up another first down, but Union was held to 3 yards over the next three plays. On fourth-and-7, Bradford’s Travis Reed tackled Elixson for a 3-yard loss.
The Tornadoes’ offense covered 67 yards in just two plays — both runs by Harris. He had a 9-yard carry before breaking free for a 58-yard touchdown run that ended his night with four total carries for 74 yards. Cubbedge kicked the extra point to put Bradford. Up 34-0.
Union drove 80 yards to avoid the shutout. The Tigers picked up two first downs on runs by Lawton and Elixson before Colt Thomas threw a 28-yard pass to Llanes, moving Union to the Bradford 25. Elixson and Llanes had runs of 6 and 11 yards, respectively, with Llanes’ run giving the Tigers first-and-goal at the 8. Elixson scored on a run from there, with Llanes successful on his two-point conversion run.
Elixson finished with 73 yards on 15 carries.
It was the third double-digit win for Bradford, which was coming off a 46-22 win over visiting Newberry on Sept. 19.
The Tornadoes opened the season with a 34-18 win over visiting Baker County on Aug. 22. Bradford then traveled to play Jacksonville’s Trinity Christian, winning 20-13 on Sept. 5.
