BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford Middle School, which is trying to finish in the top two in the East Division of the Suwannee Middle Athletic Conference and earn a berth in the playoffs, rolled to a 46-0 win over fellow East Division team Keystone Heights on Sept. 23 in Starke.
The Tornadoes were third behind Interlachen and Palatka in the East Division standings prior to playing Keystone. The top two teams in the East and West divisions at the conclusion of the regular season advance to the postseason.
Bradford’s last regular-season game is at Interlachen on Tuesday, Oct. 1, at 6 p.m.
The Tornadoes’ offense met little resistance against Keystone, racking up 305 yards and scoring on every possession but one.
Keystone had the game’s first possession, but gained little yardage, thanks to Bradford’s Montrez Aldridge, who made three tackles for a net loss of a yard.
Aldridge wasted little time making his presence felt on the offensive side of the ball, catching a 20-yard pass from quarterback Journey Reed on the Tornadoes’ first play from scrimmage. Swade Britt then caught a short pass and turned it into a 22-yard touchdown at the 4:46 mark of the first quarter. Cameron Hampton’s run on the two-point conversion made the score 8-0.
The Indians’ first offensive play following the ensuing kickoff was a 40-yard pick-six by Aldridge, but Bradford was penalized for holding. The foul occurred after the interception, though, putting the Tornadoes’ offense on the Keystone 43.
Braylon Shanks and Reed had runs of 4 and 11 yards, respectively, as Bradford gained a first down at the 28. Two consecutive 5-yard penalties had the Tornadoes facing first-and-20. Jayden Roberson had an 8-yard run, followed by a 4-yard run by Hampton. On third-and-8, Aldridge carried the ball into the end zone on a 26-yard touchdown run with 1:32 to play in the first quarter. Raef Cubbedge successfully ran it in on the two-point play for a 16-0 Bradford lead.
Keystone ran just two offensive plays following the score. Bradford’s Cash Guion caused a fumble, which the Tornadoes recovered at the Keystone 30.
One play was all the Tornadoes needed to increase their lead, with Reed and Aldridge hooking up for a 30-yard touchdown that gave Bradford a 22-0 lead with 47 seconds remaining in the opening quarter. The two-point conversion failed.
Aldridge finished with 50 yards on two receptions and 26 rushing yards on one carry.
Reed completed 4 of 7 passes for 92 yards.
The Indians’ offense got off to a good start following the kickoff, with Mikey McCall carrying the ball for an 11-yard gain to the Bradford 38. A fumble on the next play, though, was recovered by Bradford.
Bradford picked up a first down on a 20-yard reception by Shanks, but then committed a fumble of its own, which Keystone’s Connor Mooneyham recovered.
Any momentum Keystone had was instantly lost when the first offensive play after the turnover was a 9-yard loss due to a bad snap. The Indians eventually punted after running just three plays.
Cubbedge accounted for all of the yardage for the Tornadoes on their next drive, carrying the ball three times for 49 yards. His third carry was a 32-yard touchdown run with 2:58 remaining until halftime. Hampton’s run on the two-point conversion made it a 30-0 game.
Cubbedge finished with 70 yards on four carries.
The Tornadoes drove 49 yards for another score on the first drive of the second half. Hampton had three carries for 21 yards, while a 4-yard run by Reed set up a fourth-and-inches play at the Keystone 24. Cubbedge ripped off a 21-yard run to the 3-yard line. Keith Phillips carried it into the end zone from there. Mason Lowe’s run on the two-point conversion made the score 38-0.
Shanks, who rushed for 56 yards on two carries, had a 52-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. He also had a successful run on the two-point conversion to end the scoring.
