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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a very loud crowd that felt like the whole town of Starke was in Tallahassee, Bradford (Starke) (14-1) came up short in their first state championship game appearance in 38 years to Cocoa on Friday night at Bragg Memorial Stadium on the campus of Florida A&M University.
Cocoa (14-1) coming in seeking back-to-back titles for the first time since winning three straight state championships in 2008, 2009 and 2010, saw themselves struggle at times against Bradford’s stingy defense but pulled away from the Tornadoes as the Tigers took home the 2023 Class 2S State Championship by a score of 20-6. The win gave Cocoa their sixth state championship in program history.
Bradford starts fast
It was a fast start for Bradford that saw running back Willie Pollard rip off a 50-yard play on first down to get it down to the Cocoa 38 yard line after starting at their own 12 due to fumbling of the opening kickoff. However, that drive would end quickly in just four total plays after the Tornadoes found themselves in a hole around the Cocoa 35 that forced the Tornadoes to punt.
Willie Pollard just broke off a huge run on the first play for Bradford pic.twitter.com/9T5UbJUuoy
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
With Cocoa starting their first drive at their own 20 yard line, the Tigers were looking to start hot against the Tornadoes who gave them fits in the Class 2S state semifinals just over a year ago. However, the drive would end quickly as Jeremiah McKenzie stripped the ball from the hands of DJ Bryant at the Cocoa 30-yard line that would be recovered by Duke Lewis.
COCOA FUMBLE! Looks like Duke Lewis got the recovery for Bradford! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/tBvdWvPS3h
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Bradford would proceed to capitalize off the turnover as Dae’jon Shanks orchestrated the offense from the quarterback position eventually finding Chalil Cummings for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 6-0 with 6:24 to go in the first quarter which would end up being the only score of the night for the Tornadoes.
CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN BRADFORD!
15 yard TD pass from Dae’jon Shanks to Chalil Cummings! PAT no good.
Bradford 6, Cocoa 0 – 6:24 1st Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone @ridaught @mpallman pic.twitter.com/IH6fN749tw
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Cocoa claws back quickly
Despite Brady Hart committing three turnovers in the first half, the Tigers clawed back quickly after the Bradford touchdown to respond with a touchdown of their own on a five play, 78-yard drive that saw Hart find Nicholas Teeter deep down the field for a 36-yard touchdown reception to make it 7-6 with 4:07 to go in the first quarter.
CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
TOUCHDOWN COCOA!
Brady Hart finds Nicholas Tetter for a 36 yard TD reception and Tigers take the lead.
Cocoa 7, Bradford 6 – 4:07 1st Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone… pic.twitter.com/YfsOhsgdfT
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
From there it Bradford and Cocoa each struggling to make things happen as Pollard fumbled on the first play of the next drive after the Cocoa touchdown that saw the Tigers get the ball at the Tornadoes 23.
With the ball in hand, the Tigers had the opportunity to cash in on the Bradford turnover, but it would go all for not as Hart would fumble the ball on 3rd and Goal as he approached the end zone for a touchdown. The fumble then rolled into the end zone and out the back for a touchback that would give the Tornadoes the ball back on their own 20 near the end of the first quarter.
COCOA FUMBLE! Brady Hart fumbles the ball before breaking the plane and it goes out of the end zone for a touchback. Bradford ball! #flhsfb pic.twitter.com/uCk8IQKgOY
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Bradford managed to take the turnover and drive it inside Cocoa territory, but failed to convert it into points as both teams went into the second quarter with the tight ball game forcing the Tornadoes to punt which would be downed at the one yard line.
Forced to start their next drive in the shadows of their own end zone, Cocoa worked everything they can with Hart completing a plethora of passes that would end up resulting in Latrison Lane finding the end zone on a 10-yard carry that would be the Tigers up 14-6 with 3:33 left in the first half which would be the score they would take into the locker at halftime.
Field goals put it away for Cocoa despite Bradford still having a chance.
Still up 14-6 for most of the fourth quarter both Cocoa and Bradford exchanged punts but ti would be a very long and sustained drive that would be aided with a defensive pass interference call on the Tornadoes that would cap off a nine play, 35 yard drive that ended with a Gunnar Trout 25-yard field goal to make it 17-6 with 3:56 left in the quarter.
CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
COCOA FIELD GOAL!
Gunnar Trout with the 25 yard field goal to extend the Tigers lead!
Cocoa 17, Bradford 6 – 3:56 3rd Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone @ridaught @mpallman pic.twitter.com/twKMPlqz2i
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
Trout’s second field goal would come early in the fourth quarter with a 23-yard field goal with 11:07 left in the game that would put Cocoa up 20-6. That capped off an eight play, 38-yard drive for the Tigers.
CLASS 2S STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
COCOA FIELD GOAL!
Gunnar Trout with a 24 yard field goal to extend the Tigers lead!
Cocoa 20, Bradford 6 – 11:07 4th Q https://t.co/FExbPZFobD #flhsfb @HSFBamerica @DanLaForestFB @FACACoach @FHS7v7A @scorestream @ThePrepZone @ridaught @mpallman pic.twitter.com/khEbPKo9sf
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
However, about midway through the fourth quarter, Torrin Brazell was able to force Lane to fumble which was recovered by Devon McBride who took the recovery for 21 yards before Jonathan Joiner Jr. forced McBride to fumble which then Teeter was able to recover. Has Bradford been able to keep possession of the ball it could have potentially made it a new game and given Bradford a chance to pull back closer to the Tigers.
Wild sequence here… Cocoa fumbles… but Bradford could have scooped it but fumbled and Cocoa recovered. Downs reset and Cocoa has the ball now at their own 20 pic.twitter.com/6n67ygHZjc
— FloridaHSFootball.com (@FlaHSFootball) December 9, 2023
From there Cocoa and Bradford exchanged the ball back to each other, keeping the other from doing much of anything with Bradford trying one last attempt near the end of the game to do something to get points which would not prove fruitful.
Statistically speaking
Hart was 26-of-37 passing for 228 yards and a touchdown and two interceptions in the game for Cocoa while CJ Bragg was the Tigers’ leading receiver with 10 receptions for 81 yards. For Bradford the offense struggled most of the night as Shanks was 6-of-15 passing for 80 yards and a touchdown along with an interception while the team had just a total of 109 yards rushing all night.
On defense, Davi’yon Hawkins-Ingram led Cocoa with seven tackles along with a sack, plus three tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry while Samadrae Hawkins had six tackles along with a sack, one tackle for loss, a forced fumble along with a fumble recovery. Branden Williams led Bradford in tackles with 20 while Chason Clark had nine tackles and Cummings had seven sacks. Brazell finished the night with a sack and two tackles, while McKenzie had five tackles along with two tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
