Bradford hangs on to complete perfect season winning NEFAC title

STARKE – That Gatorade bath never felt so good for Bradford head coach James McNeil and defensive coordinator Gerald Smith Tuesday night.

The duo, who have been together for four years have been building the program up to this day and it finally paid off as Bradford won the 2018 North East Florida Athletic Conference football title with a 38-23 win over visiting Oakleaf at David Hurse Stadium.

Last seconds of game Bradford celebrates victory pic.twitter.com/zPjH7OFssP

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 24, 2018

Last year they came so close finishing in a three way tie for the South Division title with Wilkinson and Lake Asbury, losing the tie breaker on a technicality while seeing Wilkinson go on to win the NEFAC title last year.

They vowed to not let that happen again this season by not losing and controlling their own destiny.

Bradford entered the title game perfect and hoped to walk off their home field the same way, but knew it wouldn’t be easy with an undefeated Oakleaf team standing in their way of the title.

Oakleaf won the North Division title and was coming off a come from behind 41-40 win over Lake Asbury last week in the semifinals.

Bradford started the game with a perfect opening drive chewing up all but three minutes of the first quarter capping the 10 play, 70 yard drive with a Dae’Jon Shanks 10 yard touchdown pass to Da’vinotae Thompson in the right corner for a quick 7-0 lead with 2:43 left in the first.

Bradford takes opening drive and scores on a 10 yard pass from Dae’Jon Shanks to Da’vinotae Thompson, Bradford leads Oakleaf 6-0 midway in first. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/VaZk8ma8a0

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 23, 2018

Oakleaf finally ran an offensive play and dynamic tailback Devin Outlaw finally went to work running three consecutive plays to put them near midfield. However the drive stalled six plays later as Outlaw’s pass fell incomplete on fourth down turning the ball over on downs.

The Tornadoes offense picked up where they left off on the last drive as tailbacks Jametrious Pringle and Thompson gashed the Jackets defense through out the game and Shanks connected with receiver Gavin Cook for a 32 yard completion putting them inside the 20 yard line.

Four plays later, Shanks rolled right and found Cook again wide open for a 15 yard touchdown putting the Tornadoes ahead 12-0 with 2:47 left till halftime.

Bradford huddles up during a timeout during the game. pic.twitter.com/xdHJAJslx5

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 26, 2018

Down two scores, the Yellow Jackets were in a big whole but they had been there before in fact just last week against Lake Asbury. There was still plenty of time to get back in the game and it started with their next drive.

From their own 45 yard line, the Jackets methodically marched down the field behind the running of Outlaw and the passing of quarterback Drew Ammon. Ammon connected with receiver Jeremiah Shack for a 21 yard completion to move them across midfield and inside the 22 yard line.

Ammon again hit Shack for a ten yard completion and the Jackets were knocking on the door inside the 10 yard line. Four plays later, Outlaw rumbled in from 2 yards cutting the lead to 12-7 with 1.3 seconds left in the half.

A huge answer had finally gave the Jackets some momentum heading into the half now down just 5 points and receiving the ball in the second half.

Despite a great return from Antonio Diaz, the Jackets couldn’t get anything going on their opening drive of the second half and were forced to punt it away.

Both defenses came out of the half rejuvenated as both offenses struggled early on in the third quarter. Caleb White sacked Shanks for a short loss on third down to force Bradford to punt it back to Oakleaf.

As the fourth quarter began, Oakleaf had possession and was looking to take control of the game. Outlaw busted off runs of 10, 4 and 6 yards to move the Jackets past midfield.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, Outlaw raced 38 yards down the left side to finally put Oakleaf ahead 15-12 seconds into the quarter.

Devin Outlaw ends junior high career with three touchdowns in loss tonight. pic.twitter.com/WKa7iNnrjo

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 24, 2018

However, the lead would be short lived though as five plays later Shanks would find Chalil Cummings wide open down the sideline for a 49 yard touchdown toss putting the Tornadoes back in the lead at 18-15 with 5:47 left in the game.

Bradford coaches knew stopping Outlaw was going to be difficult and gambled with a onside kick which they recovered at midfield shocking everyone. Initially they kicked off to Oakleaf but a false start penalty on the kickoff made them re kick it.

Pringle brought the crowd to its feet with a 52 yard touchdown run on the ensuing play to increase the Tornadoes lead to 26-15 with 5:36 left in the game.

Oakleaf quickly answered though as two plays later, Outlaw scampered 61 yards untouched cutting the lead to 26-23 with 4:32 left in the game. The Jackets had seized the momentum back and were a defensive stop from possibly winning the game as neither defense could stop each other at the moment.

Ammon’s kickoff went deep in the end zone as the Tornadoes would start their drive from their own 20 yard line. A holding penalty on the first play would back them even further back to the 10 yard line.

Up three with 3:30 left in the game and backed up inside its own 10, Bradford County needed a big play on third and 20 to prevent Oakleaf (6-1) from getting the ball back.

Pringle made sure it happened, taking a handoff from Shanks and racing 91 yards untouched to extend the lead to 32-23 giving the Tornadoes some much needed breathing room.

Jametrious Pringle 91 yard scamper put Bradford ahead 31-23 with 3:15 left in the game. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/CPCcyh74bh

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 24, 2018

It still wasn’t over though, with Outlaw on the other side, the defense knew they needed a quick three and out to officially call it a night. They did getting a bad snap over the quarterback head on first down and then three consecutive incomplete passes to take over possession again.

Two plays later, Thompson raced 19 yards up the middle to send the home crowd into a state of euphoria as the Tornadoes pulled ahead 38-23 with 1:48 left in the game.

Da’vinotae Thompson 19 yard run clinched the title for Bradford putting them ahead 38-25 with 1:48 left in the game. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/iOYg2Ym8QY

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 24, 2018

Still with Outlaw on the other side Bradford coaches knew it still wasn’t over as the Yellow Jackets wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Outlaw picked up a first down to keep the drive alive on fourth down, however two plays later after picking up 8 yards on a run he fumbled the ball before going down to the ground and the Tornadoes recovered it with a minute remaining in the game to seal the win.

Oakleaf gave Bradford a tough game cutting the lead to 26-23 with 4:32 left in the game. Yellow Jackets (6-1) finish season as conference runnerups. @DuvalSports pic.twitter.com/si1U4PkWAJ

— Corey Davis (@ByCoreyDavis) October 24, 2018

Both said the key for winning their first title together was preparation all year especially this week.

“We watch a lot of film and we were well prepared for Oakleaf,” McNeil and Smith said. “We were not going to let one guy No. 5 beat us, we’re better than him.” We knew we had to contain No. 5 (Outlaw), we knew he was going to be tough to stop we just had to contain him and slow him down.”

Outlaw finished with 172 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries in the loss to cap a tremendous junior high career.

Bradford (7-0-1) held their own offensively led by Pringle (179 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries) and Thompson (73 yards and one touchdown on 9 carries) as well as Shanks (6 of 8 for 141 yards, 3 touchdowns).

Of course neither would have been successful without a solid offensive line featuring Easton Wynn, Elijah Williams, Ashton Hunter, Cole Crosby and Tristen Kelly.

“Our power game can’t be stopped, Thompson is a grown man and Pringle is the power guy who is just learning how to play the game,” Smith said.

For Bradford coaches McNeil and Smith and the rest of the staff a four year run was finally paying off with their first conference championship since winning the SMAC title back in 2013.

“We had to represent for Bradford, we had to let people know Bradford isn’t going no where,” Smith and McNeil stated. “This was for all of Bradford, we would like to thank the administration, staff and especially our community for all coming out tonight and supporting us.”