Starke Fl- Bradford’s quest to reach the Class 2S FHSAA state championships fell just short at home with a 31-21 loss to Cocoa Friday night. As predicted by Duval Sports, the game was extremely close and highly competitive all the way to the final whistle. Yet the opening whistle saw Bradford once again get a slow start out of the gate. It would prove costly in the end.
The Tornadoes would fall behind 14-0 with Cocoa leading at halftime. Bradford would be forced to make a furious comeback for the second week in a row. Against Baker County the week before, the Tornadoes fell behind 17-7 at halftime, but got a spark from special teams in the second-half. They would receive the same spark in the state semifinal when Jametrius Pringle returned the second-half kickoff 95-yards for a Tornado touchdown. It was Pringle’s second week in a row with a second-half kickoff return for a touchdown, as Bradford pulled to within one score, 14-7 , with 11:39 to play in the third quarter.
Bradford would tie the game thanks to special teams again. Torin Brazell would block a punt and return it 30-yards for a touchdown, and just like that Bradford was back in it as the sell out crowd let them know just how much they appreciated them.
Cocoa would pull ahead late in the third quarter, when Jayvan Boggs out-raced everyone down the sideline for a touchdown. The 76-yard pass from quarterback Blake Boda to Boggs was their second touchdown connection of the night.
Bradford would tie the game yet again, when Jeremiah McKenzie scored on a short touchdown to make the score 21-21 in the fourth quarter with just 7:45 to play. However, Cocoa (10-3) proved to be battle tested.
It would be Blake Boda to Jayvan Boggs again and again for the Tigers down the field on big pass plays. The drive would culminate in a field goal, giving Cocoa a 24-21 lead. On the next drive, Bradford would suffer a costly fumble, that resulted in a short touchdown run by Anthony Bridgewater from 2-yards away, to close the scoring out, and end the game with a 31-21 Final.
In the end, Bradford couldn’t overcome another slow start in the playoffs. A 10-point deficit last week, and a 14-point deficit this week was something no team could expect to overcome against opponents this deep in the playoffs. Cocoa moves on to face Florida State University High in the FHSAA 2S State Championship. Bradford can celebrate a memorable 12-2 season, in which they were ranked as high as #2 in the Duval Sports weekly Power Rankings
Featured Image by Will Brown
