BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Bradford faces one of the teams it recorded one of its school-record eight shutouts against in the Region 2-2S semifinals when the Tornadoes host the Eastside Rams on Friday, Nov. 18, at 7:30 p.m.
The Tornadoes (10-1), who are the top seed in Region 2 and the second-ranked team overall in Class 2S, defeated Eastside 28-0 on Sept. 16. Since then, the fifth seed Rams (8-2) have won six of seven games, including a 27-14 win over fourth seed North Marion in the Region 2 quarterfinals.
Other than Bradford, Eastside, which is ranked 16th in 2S, played three other teams in the regular season that qualified for the playoffs, including North Marion, who the Rams defeated 14-6 in winning the District 7 championship. The Rams also defeated 1S P.K. Yonge 48-21, while losing 14-7 to 1R Newberry.
Eastside played only three teams that finished the regular season with winning records: Bradford, North Marion and Newberry.
The Rams are scoring an average of 24 points per game, while allowing opponents to score an average of 11 points per game. The 28 points scored by Bradford was the most points Eastside allowed this season.
Eastside is in the playoffs for the 16th year and making its first appearance since 2018. The Rams have a postseason record of 12-15.
The Rams have a 1-4 record in region semifinal games and have never won a region championship.
Eastside’s win over North Marion was its first playoff win since 2012 and just its second in 17 years.
In the Sept. 16 game between Bradford and Eastside, the Tornadoes held the Rams to minus-1 yard rushing and limited quarterback Holden Johnson to 90 yards passing. Manny Covey rushed for two scores, while quarterback Jeremiah McKenzie threw a touchdown pass to Chalil Cummings, while also rushing for a score.
Eastside is predominantly a passing team, averaging only 69 rushing yards per game during the regular season. Johnson, in nine regular-season games, completed 84 of 163 pass attempts for 1,448 yards and 14 touchdowns.
The Bradford-Eastside winner will play for the Region 2 championship on Friday, Nov. 25, against either second seed Baldwin (ranked ninth in the state) or third seed Baker County (ranked 11th in the state). Bradford would host regardless of the opponent.
Baldwin (9-2) advanced by defeating seventh seed Palatka 29-12, while Baker (8-3) advanced by defeating sixth seed Yulee 16-6.
