Bradley Central (7-2, 4-1) extended their win streak over Soddy Daisy (5-4, 2-0) to nine consecutive wins on Thursday night’s rescheduled game.
Soddy Daisy took the opening kickoff to the Bradley Central 44 yard line where junior quarterback Isaac Barnes capped off a seven play 44-yard drive with a 7-yard rush to go up 7-0.
Soddy Daisy would force a fumble on Bradley Central’s first drive, which was recovered by senior defensive linemen Jonathan Rothman at the Bear’s 23 yard line. It only took two plays for the Trojans to find the end zone as senior running back Hayden Maynor ran for a 6-yard score to increase their lead to 14-0.
Everything seemed to be going the Trojan’s way as they forced a punt on the Bear’s next drive. However, Soddy Daisy’s punt returner muffed the punt and the ball was recovered in the end zone for a Bradley Central touchdown, which cut the lead to 14-7.
“They (Soddy Daisy) were about to put the game away in the first quarter and it probably flipped momentum our way a little bit.” Bradley Central Head Coach Damon Floyd said.
Both teams exchanged punts, before Soddy Daisy embarked on 9 play 74-yard drive which resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass from Barnes to junior wide out KeSean Eubanks.
The Trojans forced another turnover as junior corner back Landon Maynor picked off Bradley’s junior quarterback Javon Burke. Soddy Daisy cashed in on the turnover with another touchdown pitch and catch between Barnes and Eubanks, this time for 22 yards. The Trojans held a 28-7 lead midway through the second quarter before Bradley came roaring back.
Bradley Central would respond with an eight play 58-yard drive that was capped off with a 10-yard rush by star junior Tray Curry. The Bears took it 67 yards and scored off of a 5-yard rush on their next drive leaving 53 seconds left in the half to make it 28-21 at the break.
Bradley Central came out aggressive in the second half putting together an 11 play 72 yard drive and converting on a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 28-28. The Bears successfully recovered an onside kick on the ensuing kickoff, but were unable to do anything with the football as the Trojans forced a three-and-out.
Soddy Daisy would retake the lead on their next possession through an 8-yard rush by Hayden Maynor after going 97 yards in nine plays.
Both teams exchanged turnovers on their next respective possessions, but it was Bradley Central who was able to capitalize as Burke found junior Kannon Hall on a 75-yard touchdown pass to tie the game back up at 35-35.
On Soddy Daisy’s next drive, Barnes’ pass was intercepted by junior linebacker Tucker Thompson. Bradley milked the clock as their next drive bled into almost half of the fourth quarter as they took it 48 yards in 11 plays to take their first lead of the game with 8:29 remaining.
The Trojans turned the ball over on downs on their next possession and the Bears made them pay. Curry burned the Trojan defense on a 61-yard touchdown run two plays later to put the game out of reach for Soddy Daisy.
“I’m just happy that our kids kept battling and found a way at the end,” Coach Floyd said. “I think our depth probably ended up playing a huge advantage – they have a lot of guys going both ways and we are two platooning.”
Bradley Central (7-2, 4-1) will finish the regular season out with a much anticipated matchup at currently undefeated McMinn County (8-0, 4-0) next Friday at 7:30 p.m. Soddy Daisy (5-4, 2-0) will host Walker Valley (4-5, 1-1) next Friday at 7:30 p.m.
Scoring Summary
SD 14 14 7 0--35
BC 7 14 14 14--49