Gainesville high school football: Bradford wins battle of unbeatens against Eastside

Bradford High posted its third-straight shutout to start the season, and the Tornadoes ran the football with ease against host Eastside High 28-0 on Friday night.

Eastside (2-1) entered the Week 4 matchup at Citizens Field in Gainesville undefeated, a 2-0 start under new coach Harold Gator Hoskins.

Here are five takeaways from the game.

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No points allowed this season

Bradford’s defense is really good. The Tornadoes held their opponents scoreless for a third consecutive Friday, beating Baldwin 35-0, then Middleburg 21-0, before blanking the Rams. Bradford shut down Eastside’s run game with its speed and physicality.

“They were more physical than us,” Hoskins said. “They came off the ball harder, and we couldn’t run it.”

The Rams didn’t gain a first down on a designed run play the entire contest. As the game wore on, Eastside’s only means of positive yardage was passing.

“We knew they were going to have a tough time running against us,” Bradford coach Jamie Rodgers said. “They prepare well on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. By the time Thursday gets here we know the game plan. These guys have told me from the beginning of the year, ‘We’re going to shut people out.’ ”

Eastside also set itself back via the yellow flag. The Rams totaled 18 penalties, with multiple calls for unsportsmanlike conduct and delay of game, among many others.

Even on its biggest gain of the game — a 32 yard run by quarterback Holden Johnson — Eastside was penalized for a block in the back that took place on the other side of the field negating some of the big gain.

“We definitely shot ourselves in the foot,” Hoskins said. “It’s undisciplined, and the undisciplined team is going to lose. Football is an emotional game. We’ll have to look at it on film and get better.”

Bradford's running attack

The Tornadoes’ offense employed a multi-vortex run attack. Three players rushed for at least 75 yards.

Senior and Cincinnati commit Manny Covey ran for two second-half touchdowns, while sophomore quarterback Jeremiah Mckenzie carried in for the game’s opening score. Junior Willie Pollard also hit the Rams defense for positive yardage and multiple first downs.

“Manny loves contact, and loves to run the ball hard,” Rodgers said. “That’s all you can ask out of a tailback. He’s our thunder guy, with a little bit of lightning. Willie’s our lightning.”

Bradford always had a ball carrier with legs fresh enough to burst through Eastside’s line and into the second level.

“Their backs were good, but it just comes back to them being more physical than us,” Hoskins said.

Sensational sophomore

Mckenzie made his first start at quarterback — a position he usually plays on Thursday nights for Bradford’s JV team. He looked varsity-ready. Stepping behind center in place of injured starter Dae’jon Shanks, the 6-foot-1 McKenzie ran for a 16-yard score on the opening drive, then threw a nice ball on a 15-yard pass to Chalil Cummings for a 14-0 lead with 3:03 in the first quarter.

“He’s going to be real good,” Rodgers said. “We’ve got a good package with Jeremiah in the game. I feel comfortable with him playing quarterback.”

Later in the game, Mckenzie carried three times for 22 yards on the Tornadoes' longest sustained drive of the night, a 10-play march that resulted in Covey’s first score and a 21-0 lead.

Perfect time for a bye week

After the defeat, Eastside will have a lot of time to look at film and correct errors. The Rams have next Friday off.

“I’m more disappointed in how our guys responded tonight,” Hoskins said. “We’ll take a good look at everything and make adjustments.”

It won’t get any easier for Eastside upon its return to action. The Rams (2-1) travel to North Marion (4-0) on Sept. 30. Bradford (3-0) hosts Munroe next Friday night in Starke.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: High school football: Bradford stays undefeated with win over Eastside