BY CLIFF SMELLEY
The defense made early stands to keep host Palatka out of the end zone before the offense got it going, getting three touchdown passes from Cy Cubbedge and 100 rushing yards from Iyen Addison as the Bradford High School football team defeated the Panthers 36-0 for a District 5-2A win on Oct. 3.
Bradford (6-1, 2-0 in District 5) now plays a key game on Friday, Oct. 10, at 7:30 p.m. when it hosts Newberry, which is also undefeated in the district (see related post).
Palatka entered the game with only one win, but threatened to put the Tornadoes into an early hole, driving to the Bradford 1-yard line on each of its first two possessions.
However, Bradford kept the Panthers (1-6, 0-3) out of the end zone both times, while the offense, after going three-and-out on its first two series, scored touchdowns on three consecutive drives.
“They came out fired up and ready to play us, obviously,” Bradford Head Coach Jamie Rodgers said. “We took care of all the bad stuff and came out on top.”
The ”bad stuff” included a punt block by Palatka’s Larnelle Boykin, which had the Panthers starting their first offensive series at the Bradford 29. Quarterback Noah McKinley had a 2-yard run on fourth-and-2 to give the Panthers one first down, while Kedric Wright’s 13-yard run set up first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. Bradford’s Nate Raymond sacked McKinley for a 1-yard loss, but Wright then took a handoff 6 yards to the 1-yard line. After a penalty for illegal substitution backed Palatka up 5 yards, Lawrence Evans had a 4-yard carry to set up fourth down at the 2. Evans took another handoff and bulled into the end zone, but a penalty for an illegal shift nullified the score and had the Panthers attempting a fourth-down play at the 7-yard line. Parviele Lee tackled McKinley for just a 1-yard gain to force a turnover on downs.
Bradford’s second offensive series was the same as its first — a three-and-out. The Panthers’ Boykin came close again to blocking the punt, which traveled 27 yards, setting the Palatka offense up at the Bradford 37.
Wright broke free for a 16-yard run to the 21, while Tommy Offord caught a pass for a 20-yard gain to the 1-yard line. The Tornadoes them made three straight tackles behind the line of scrimmage — two of which were recorded by Lee. Palatka went for it on fourth down from the 6, with Evans gaining 4 yards before being taken down at the 2.
After gaining a total of 12 yards on their first two series, the Tornadoes put together a 98-yard scoring drive.
Running back Iyen Addison, who returned to the lineup after missing three games with an ankle injury, got three straight carries on the Tornadoes’ third drive, gaining a total of 14 yards for a first down at the 16. After a 7-yard run by Cubbedge, Addison had gains of 14 and 6 yards. On second-and-4 at the 43, Jordan Cason caught a short pass and turned it into a 57-yard touchdown as time expired in the first quarter. Tyler Sapp kicked the extra point as Bradford took a 7-0 lead.
The Panthers’ third drive began with Bradford’s Lee making tackles on Palatka’s first- and second-down plays for a net gain of 5 yards.
“He was all over the place,” Rodgers said of Lee. “He has been (all season). He’ll tell you he didn’t play very good at times in the first half, but he turned it on in the second half.”
The Tornadoes then got a huge play from Malachi Aldridge, who scooped up a fumble and returned it to the Panthers’ 13-yard line.
After an offsides penalty against Palatka and an incomplete pass, Addison had a 4-yard run to the 4. He was then held to no gain on third down. Bradford went for it on fourth-and-1, which Addison gaining 3 yards. He then got the call again, scoring on a 1-yard run at the 9:18 mark of the second quarter as the Tornadoes took a 13-0 lead.
Aldridge made his mark again for the Bradford defense, sacking McKinley for a 2-yard loss on the first play of Palatka’s ensuing series. Maleak Aldridge made a tackle for a 1-yard loss on third-and-7, forcing the Panthers to punt.
Chase Phillips’ 8-yard punt return had Bradford starting a drive at the Palatka 48. Kamontae Nixon was tackled for a 3-yard loss on a pass play, but running back Keshawn Kennedy had an 11-yard run to set up third-and-2. Addison, who rushed for 106 yards on 16 carries, then ripped off a 15-yard run for a first down at the 25. A holding penalty put the Tornadoes into a long-yardage situation, but Cubbedge hooked up with Elijah Lawrence for a 32-yard touchdown with 5:04 to play in the first half. The score stood at 20-0 after Sapp’s PAT.
Lawrence finished with 27 yards on two receptions.
The Panthers picked up a first down on their next series, but a sack and fumble resulted in a total loss of 16 yards and eventually forced Palatka to punt.
Phillips, who returned the punt 22 yards to the Palatka 41, caught a 9-yard pass, followed by Kennedy gaining 5 yards, giving Bradford a first down at the 27. A holding penalty later had the Tornadoes facing second-and-20. Phillips had a 9-yard reception to set up third-and-11. An incomplete pass on third down brought out Sapp to attempt a 45-yard field goal on fourth down. Sapp booted it through with plenty of distance, putting Bradford up 23-0 with 56 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Palatka gained a first down on its first series of the second half, but was forced to punt after a Lee tackle and a Danny Torres sack resulted in a total loss of 7 yards.
The Tornadoes finished the game with 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and held the Panthers to minus-6 yards in the second half.
“We had really good tackling from Kingston Booker. All the linebackers, really,” Rodgers said. “J.J. (Hall) did a good job. Cohen (Cioffi) did a good job. Nate (Raymond), I thought, had a pretty good game in the second half.”
A pass-interference penalty helped the Tornadoes’ first offensive series of the second half, giving them a first down at the Palatka 47. Addison had three carries for 25 yards after a holding penalty, moving Bradford to the 16. Phillips had a 7-yard
run and then caught a 9-yard pass for a touchdown with 5:50 to play in the third quarter. Sapp added the PAT for a 30-0 lead.
Phillips, who was injured on the touchdown play, finished with 27 yards on three receptions.
Cubbedge ended his night with 144 yards on 9-of-20 passing.
Booker made a tackle for a 2-yard loss on Palatka’s ensuing drive, which consisted of three plays and a punt.
Bradford put the final points on the board with a nine-play, 55-yard touchdown drive. Cason, who finished with two receptions for 75 yards, gained 18 yards on a pass play that set up first-and-goal at the 4. Kennedy scored on a run from there, ending his night with 39 yards on eight carries. The two-point conversion failed.
Bradford racked up 355 yards to Palatka’s 99, with 211 coming on the ground
The Tornadoes’ Jarell Harris finished as the game’s second-leading rusher on just four carries, gaining 44 yards.
