STARKE-The way things started you would have thought you were watching a Mike Tyson and Evander Hollyfield fight, as early on both teams traded back and forth blows, but in the end like boxing only one team was left standing in the end.
Dunnellon survived a back and forth early battle before running away with a 49-21 win at David Hurse Stadium last night.
Bradford County came into its first round playoff game with Dunnellon with the top ranked defense in the Northeast Florida area; unfortunately none of that mattered Friday night.
The Tornadoes, who gave up 146 yards a game during the regular season, gave up a surprising 300 in just in passing alone to the Tigers.
Tigers quarterback Layne Sanderson finished 11 of 13 for 301 yards and four touchdowns, hooking up with receiver Frank Williams six times for 220 yards and two touchdowns.
The way things started you would have never known Bradford was never in the game in the second half.
Sophomore Jeremiah Vaughn returned the opening kickoff 65 yards to the 35-yard line. Three plays later, Aundre Davis rumbled in from 2 yards to give the Tornadoes a quick 7-0 lead just 58 seconds into the game.
The score allowed Davis (144 yards on 23 carries) to tie the school record for touchdowns in a season with Alphonso Smith who had 26 in 2003.
The momentum was short lived though as Dunnellon struck back quickly as Sanderson hit Williams in stride for a 22-yard strike cutting the lead to 7-6 two minutes later.
Bradford appeared to adding to its lead on its second drive of the game but Zion Barber hooked a 41 yard field goal wide left.
Again Dunnellon struck quick again in its shotgun spread offense as Sanderson hit Williams in stride again for a 80-yard touchdown reception on the first play following the miss field goal to take a 14-6 lead six minutes into the game.
Bradford (7-2) kept taking body shots after body shots but kept fighting back with its own blows.
Chris Cummings picked off his fifth pass of the season picking off Sanderson a possession later, which led to Barber’s 47-yard keeper tying the game at 14-14 seconds into the second quarter.
After holding the Tigers to a rare three and out on its next drive, the Tornadoes appeared to have all the momentum back.
It was short lived though as Dewayne McBride fumbled the ball back to the Tigers three plays later at the Tornadoes own 14-yard line.
A play later, Sanderson connected with Braelan Edwards for a 14-yard strike and 20-14 lead with 8:37 left till half.
Davis was stopped 2 inches short of a first down on a fourth and 2 play on the Tornadoes next play, the first of many unfortunate plays.
Sanderson connected with Ivory Mack in stride for a 70-yard touchdown reception three plays later increasing the lead to 26-14 with 5:31 left till half.
After pinning the Tigers down at the 14 after a punt from Barber, the Tornadoes defense stepped up and forced another three and out and took over at the Tigers 39-yard line.
Barber broke free for a 14 yard gain down to the 1 and followed with a 1 yard sneak cutting the lead to 26-21 seconds before the half.
Despite the high scoring affair, Bradford seemed to have the Tigers right they wanted them in the back and forth affair.
Dunnellon took the second half kickoff and quickly added to its lead again as Joshua Williams ran 64 yards down the sideline untouched to put the Tigers back up two scores at 34-21 two minutes into the second half.
Hard to believe but the game became a defensive battle in the third quarter as both teams traded punts back and forth.
Faced with fourth and 13 at the 30 yard line, Sanderson hooked up with Williams again for a 26 yard completion down to the four. That was likely the back breaker of the game and the final blow.
Jase Williams followed with a 4 yard run putting the Tigers up 42-21 and the rout was on with under two minutes to go in the third quarter.
Tyre Frazier closed it out with a 4 yard run late in the fourth quarter to put the Tigers into the second round with a 49-21 win.
Bradford, which came into the game with 20 defensive takeaways, could only manage 2 turnovers which led to only 7 points.
“They did a really nice job not turning the ball over really,” Bradford coach Corey Green said. “Their quarterback made some great plays as well and they had several bad snaps but the ball bounced their way.”
One might think Dunnellon may have used the same game plan Taylor County used to beat Bradford via the pass, but Green disagreed.
“They have been 60% rush and 40% pass all season long, they stuck to the same game plan they have always run,” Green said. “They have a bunch of tall guys and work the perimeter really well but tonight they just out executed us.”
Despite the loss, Green has a lot to look forward next year as several of his top playmakers on offense including Barber, Carter and McBride all return.
Carter ended the season with 1,284 yards and 26 touchdowns on 164 carries, while Barber (123 yards and 2 touchdowns on 14 carries) finishes with 813 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Tornadoes finished the season with 3,090 yards rushing.
“We return 7 guys on offensive next year,” Green said. “We have a lot of experience returning next year but we have to get quicker and stronger as you saw tonight.”
