BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
For the second time in three weeks, the Bradford High School football team shut out a school in a larger classification, winning 42-0 against Class 3S Lecanto on Oct. 20 in Starke.
The Tornadoes (8-0), who defeated 4S Oakleaf 12-0 on Oct. 6, never need to do a whole lot on offense with the way its defense plays, but quarterback Dae’Jon Shanks turned in a highlight-reel type of game anyway, accumulating more than 300 yards rushing and passing.
Shanks has had almost 600 yards rushing and passing the last two games.
“Dae’Jon’s getting better and better,” Bradford Heach Coach Jamie Rodgers said. “From week one to right now has been incredible. The zone read and the way he’s reading it — he’s making the right read almost every time. When he’s not, he’s fixing it in practice.
“I can’t say enough good things about what he’s done.”
Meanwhile, what more can you say about the defense? The Tornadoes, who host Palatka for the District 6-2S title on Friday, Oct. 27, at 7:30 p.m., held Lecanto to 126 yards, with 72 of those coming on one play. Bradford made 11 tackles for no gain or a loss.
It was the third shutout this season, despite the fact the Panthers (4-4) had a first-and-goal opportunity at the 2-yard line.
Bradford, which is third in the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Class 2S power rankings, now has 12 shutouts in the last 22 games.
“They take a lot of pride in it,” Rodgers said, adding, “Our kids want shutouts. They love shutouts.”
The defense made its presence felt immediately, with Chason Clark making a tackle for a 1-yard loss on the first play from scrimmage. The opening drive also featured a tackle for a 5-yard loss by Devon McBride as the Panthers punted after three plays.
A pass-interference penalty put Bradford past the 50 on its first offensive series. Clark picked up another first down on a third-down reception of 15 yards to the Lecanto 26. Later, on third-and-10, Shanks broke loose for a 19-yard run to the 7, but a holding penalty had the Tornadoes facing third-and-5 from the 21. After an incomplete pass, Shanks hooked up with Chalil Cummings for a touchdown that put Bradford up 6-0 at the 7:15 mark of the first quarter. Shanks was kept out of the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt.
Lecanto had another three-and-out on its next series. Branden Williams almost intercepted a tipped pass on first down, while McBride made a tackle for a 5-yard loss on a third-down pass play.
Shanks, who rushed for 224 yards on 13 carries, had a 22-yard run to the Lecanto 29, with a horse-collar penalty tacking on an additional 15 yards. Jeremiah McKenzie, who took a few snaps at quarterback as well, had a 13-yard run to the 1-yard line. That set Brian Cliffin up for a touchdown run with 4:17 to play in the first quarter. Cliffin, who rushed for 32 yards on five carries, had a successful run on the two-point conversion, making the score 14-0.
The Panthers did pick up a first down on their third series, but they were eventually forced to punt. Bradford’s Malachi Murphy had the big play on the drive, coming up fast with a bone-jarring hit on Lecanto’s Braylen Moore on what was a 4-yard loss on a pass play.
A 15-yard penalty and a 14-yard pass from McKenzie to Cummings helped move Bradford to the Lecanto 20 early in the second quarter, but the Tornadoes turned the ball over on a fumble.
Three plays after the turnover, the Panthers struck with a big play as quarterback J.T. Tipton hit Tez Joseph in stride along the Lecanto sideline for a 72-yard gain to the Bradford 2.
“They hit us on a big play,” Rodgers said. “We were looking into the backfield instead of doing what we were supposed to be doing.”
Several opponents the past two seasons have come up empty on goal-to-go opportunities. Lecanto became the latest to fail to cash in on a chance to score. Panthers running back Delonzo Washington was held to no gain by J.T. Hood on first down. He then lost a yard on second down after getting hit by Clark in the backfield. After an illegal-procedure penalty, running back Colton McNeely was held to a 1-yard gain.
“I knew if they had to run it in, it was going to be trouble (for them),” Rodgers said. “Our guys really like to play the run.”
Lecanto set up for a 24-yard field-goal attempt, which was blocked by Jyquez Cason. It was the second field-goal attempt blocked this season by Cason, who has also blocked a punt.
“He’s been a special player on special teams,” Rodgers said.
If the blocked kick wasn’t a deflating blow, then Shanks delivered one on the next play from scrimmage, running for an 89-yard touchdown with 6:23 to play in the second quarter. Declan Hense, who recently joined the team, then kicked the extra point for a 21-0 lead.
Bradford put together an 88-yard drive to add one more score in the first half. A 15-yard reception by Cummings resulted in one first down, while a 13-yard run by Cliffin gained another. Cummings, who had five receptions for 80 yards, then caught a 20-yard pass from Shanks to the Lecanto 35. Shanks relied upon his legs on another big-chunk play, running for a 24-yard gain to the 11. A holding penalty backed the Tornadoes up, but Clark was able to come down with a Shanks pass in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown on the final play of the half. Hense added the PAT to make the score 28-0.
The Tornadoes opened the second half with a 70-yard scoring drive. A 22-yard run by Cason moved Bradford past midfield and set up a first down at the Lecanto 35. Receptions of 10 yards by Cummings and 9 yards by Michael Oliver took the Tornadoes to the 16-yard line. Shanks found his way into the end zone on a run from there, but a holding penalty nullified the score, but Bradford still picked up a first down on the play. Cliffin then had a 10-yard run to the 1-yard line, which set up a Shanks touchdown that counted with 9:06 to play in the third quarter. Hense kicked the extra point for a 35-0 lead.
Lecanto’s first series of the half began with Delonzo Washington carrying the ball four straight times for a total of 34 yards, setting the Panthers up at the Bradford 46. The Panthers’ next two plays resulted in 1 yard before McKenzie sacked Tipton for a 5-yard loss on third down. Lecanto went for it on fourth-and-14, with Nate Raymond getting a sack for a 3-yard loss.
Bradford running back Elijah Lawrence entered the game and had every carry on an eight-play, 47-yard scoring drive that resulted in Lawrence finishing as the game’s second-leading rusher. Lawrence capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run.
Hense then completed his perfect night on extra-point attempts for the 42-0 final.
Rodgers’ team had been on the road the previous two weeks, including a trip to Miami, so it felt good to be back at David Hurse Stadium.
“It was fantastic to be at home,” Rodgers said. “Walk out the back door of the weight room, and walk out here on the field to play in front of our fans. It’s going to be a great atmosphere next week when Palatka rolls in here.”
Palatka, which is 19th in the FHSAA Class 2S power rankings, improved to 7-1 with a 29-16 win over Fernandina Beach.
The Bradford-Palatka winner will be the District 6 champ and earn an automatic berth in the Region 2 playoffs.
It was the same scenario last season when the teams faced off in Palatka. Bradford won that game 35-14.
