MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Looking like they are working toward an 18th TSSAA State Championship, third-ranked Maryville paid Bradley Central back for last year's two losses in a Region 2-6A blowout Friday evening.
After the 2023 state semifinalist Bears became the first team since the 1970s to beat the Rebels twice in a season, Maryville made this year's Bradley squad pay the price with a 38-0 trip to the woodshed.
"They were older, bigger, faster, stronger and way more prepared than we were," remarked veteran "Papa Bear" Damon Floyd of his team being shut out for the first time since the opening game of the 2018 season.
"They (Maryville) definitely wanted revenge from last year."
The beating may prove to be even more costly for the Bears, who saw their third quarterback of the season have to leave a game with an injury.
Recent Cleveland transfer Cash Bandy hopped off the field in the fourth quarter after a hard hit on his knee while trying to get out of bounds on a scramble.
Bradley lost original stater junior Tyler Cook for the campaign on the sixth play of the season and freshman backup AJ Nash suffered a concussion in the same game.
Bandy will have an MRI on Monday.
The Maryville defense held the visitors to just 130 yards of offense, allowing them across midfield twice, both time only to the 46 yard line.
Now 1-2 on the young season, Bradley will look to rebound this week when fourth-ranked (5A) Walker Valley comes calling for the annual "County Conflict" Friday evening, at Bear Stadium. The Mustangs are coming off a 51-23 loss to seventh-ranked (6A) Cleveland.
Unbeaten Maryville will travel to Knoxville Friday to square off with Class 5A defending state champion West (2-1), whose only loss was in triple overtime to sixth-ranked (6A) Bearden in Week 1.
Maryville came out strong, scoring on its first five possession and not allowing Bradley just two first downs and 67 yards of offense in the opening half.
Sophomore QB Will Jones connected with Casey Cobble twice for first quarter scores on passes of 32 and 37 yards, plus senior RB Price Davis added a pair of one-yard TD plunges in the first half.
The hosts added a 32-yard field goal by junior Hudson Jamerson, who was true on five PAT kicks as well on the evening.
The lone second half score came from Jones hitting Mack Serr for a 13-yard score just over midway through the third quarter.
Jones finished the night completing 12-of-14 passes, including hit first eight in a ro, for 208 yards and the three scores. He also carried the ball three times for another 49 yards.
Davis carried the ball 15 times for 68 yards, while Cobble pulled in a trio of aerials for 78, both finding the end zone twice.
Bradley had eight first downs in the contest, which matched Maryville's first two opponents combined, but several dropped passes led to just a 7-of-19 completions by the Bear QBs.
Bandy was held to just 5-for-16 for 61 yards with numerous Bear receivers not securing catches when the ball was in their hands.
Freshman Tucker Cook once again came on late, like he had done against McMinn County, completing 2-of-3 passes, but for just 15 yards.
Junior Bra'shaun Beard led the Bear rushers with 39 very tough yards on nine carries.
Senior receiver Tyrese Stovall was held to just 24 yards on a pair of catches, while sophomore Brady Lewis had a 22-yard gain on his one reception. Seniors Mason Goree and Ali Scott both pulled in an aerial for 13 and 10 yards, respectively.
Junior linebacker Wiley Suskawicz led the Bear defense with nine total takedowns, including five solo tackles.
Senior LB Jacob Gentry had seven hits, while junior Kenyon Phelps was in on a half dozen.
Sophomore Zane McIntosh and freshman Will Paisley had four solos apiece in their five tackles.
GAME SUMMARY
|
BRADLEY CENTRAL
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-- 0
|
|
MARYVILLE
|
21
|
10
|
7
|
0
|
-- 38
|
First Quarter
M — Casey Cobble 32 pass from Will Jones (Hudson Jamerson kick), 9:10
M — Price Davis 1 run (Jamerson kick), 3:33
M — Cobble 37 pass from Jones (Jamerson kick), 1:57
Second Quarter
M — Jamerson 28 field goal, 11:05
M — Davis 1 run (Jamerson kick), 9:53
Third Quarter
M — Mack Serr 13 pass from Jones (Jamerson kick), 4:45
|
STATS
|
BC
|
M
|
|
First Downs
|
8
|
19
|
|
Rushes-Yards
|
18-54
|
29-138
|
|
Passing Yards
|
76
|
208
|
|
Total yards
|
130
|
346
|
|
Passing (Comp-Att-Int)
|
7-19-1
|
12-14-0
|
|
Penalties-Yards
|
4-41
|
5-38
|
|
Punts-Average
|
4-39.0
|
1-42.0
|
|
Fumbles-Lost
|
3-1
|
0-0
|
Individual Stats
Rushing: Bra'shaun Beard 9-39, Landon Scott 5-12, Cash Bandy 4-3 (BC); Price Davis 15-68 2 TDs, Will Jones 7-49, Cam Porter 3-13, Sawyer McNelly 1-4, Brenton Campbell 1-4, Mason Edwards 2-0 (M).
Passing: Cash Bandy 5-16-1 61, Tucker Cook 2-3-0 15 (BC); Will Jones 12-14-0 208 (M).
Receiving: Tyrese Stovall 2-24, Brady Lewis 1-22, Mason Goree 1-13, Ali Scott 1-10, Tay Lindsey 1-5, Knox Arrowood 1-2 (BC); Casey Cobble 3-78 2 TDs, Colton Foust 2-50, Britton Barrett 3-35, Nolan White 2-22, Mack Serr 1-13 TD, Brenton Campbell 1-10 (M).
Records: Bradley Central 1-2; No. 3 Maryville 3-0.