An audacious defensive performance kept Bradford in the game most of the way.
But as the Owl offense struggled, its defense couldn’t keep Central Clarion at bay, and the visiting Wildcats ran away with a 36-7 victory over the Bradford football team Friday at Parkway Field.
Defense, especially against the run, has been a weakness for the Owls all season. While Central Clarion’s rushing attack was held largely in check, a handful of big plays helped build a lead that the Owls could not overcome.
“We were attacking and the defense came to play tonight,” Bradford assistant coach Davis Redington said. “They came with a new switch and they were ready to play football. Two deep plays; it’s a whole different ball game.”
Clarion led by just one score until a pair of second-quarter touchdowns, one an 11-yard pass from Jase Ferguson to Ryan Hummell and the other a 31-yard TD run up the middle by Breckin Rex.
Other than that, Bradford’s run defense helped keep the Wildcats’ streaky offense in check. After struggling to slow down opposing ball carriers for most of the season, an altered defensive front provided new and successful snaps.
“We made a couple switches up front,” Redington said. “We went with a little more speed on the front line with Dalton Dixon and Lucas Laktash at defensive end, and Vincent Addotta and Nolan Gonzalez at the tackles, while rotating Chris Rodriguez in there. Just a little bit of speed.”
The Wildcats led 21-0 at halftime before a third-quarter touchdown drive distanced them from the Owls. Perhaps the lead felt more insurmountable than it was due to Clarion’s defensive dominance.
Bradford started freshman Talan Reese at quarterback, and after the team’s offense struggled to move the ball and find receivers, senior Elijah Fitton relieved Reese on the Owls’ last drive of the first half. The Owls had felt confident with Reese, but after falling behind by three scores, needed to get the ball into Fitton’s hands.
“It was just basically (fullback) Ashton (Smith) was a little banged up, so we went with (Reese) (at quarterback),” Redington said. “(Reese), just being a freshman, played great. We just needed to get the ball in our best player’s hands.”
The Owls used the same strategy a week ago when Smith went down, moving Fitton to fullback and bringing Reese in to play QB. Fitton was featured primarily out of the backfield before finishing the game under center.
Some of Bradford’s only offensive bright spots came on a drive late in the third quarter, when Fitton was able to finally incorporate Dixon, his top WR, into the game. Clarion had silenced Dixon, Jerid Wilmoth and Bradford’s other receivers for most of the contest, as Reese and Fitton each struggled to get the ball into the hands of their playmakers.
That drive culminated in a six-yard Smith touchdown run, the team’s lone score.
“Everything just kind of started clicking,” Reddington said. “We’re very young on the line, we’re asking kids to do a lot, and they might not be ready but they’re stepping up to the plate.”
Fitton would finish 10-of-25 passing for 74 yards and an interception. Reese went 3-of-10 through the air for 26 yards and an interception.
Fitton was more impactful with his legs, rushing 19 times for 81 yards. He sparked second-half offense with a few scrambles for first-down yardage, but by that point, Clarion had already built a four-score lead.
“(They beat us) right up the middle,” Redington said. “We were over-pursuing and not tackling. We were where we needed to be, we just didn’t make the plays.”
Smith had three carries for 29 yards and a score. Dixon made six receptions for 56 yards while Lucas Laktash had three catches for 23 yards and Isaiah Fitton made two catches for 19 yards.
The Owls honored their 14 senior players before the game. Redington, who helped lead the team in absence of head coach Jeff Puglio (who served his one-game suspension for a Week 7 ejection) commended the Owls’ effort on a night that Bradford just couldn’t get its often-potent offense rolling.
“The seniors stepped up, and I’ve got to give credit to all of these seniors,” Redington said. “They became big leaders tonight.”
The 0-8 Owls will have two more opportunities to prevent a second consecutive winless season. They’ll travel to Karns City next weekend before heading to Bald Eagle the following Friday.
