Live updates: High school football scores for Bradenton, Manatee County teams in Week 9
Jaden Baker fielded the punt and started running through the holes his special teams unit created.
By the time he was finally brought down, the Bradenton Christian senior covered 68 yards and set up the Panthers’ offense with a short field.
BCS (7-1) scored five plays later, shaking off four consecutive possessions that ended with turnovers, en route to a 35-7 victory over Out-of-Door Academy on Friday.
“That’s a key player making a big play,” BCS head coach Nate Strawderman said. “Set us up to go do something special. I think we’re trying to be too fancy in the first half. But they did a great job, put us in a good position.”
The Panthers concluded their regular season by flipping around a 2-7 mark one year ago to winning seven of their eight games in Strawderman’s first year as head coach.
They play in the Sunshine State Athletic Conference playoffs next Thursday against a to-be-determined opponent.
“People sent things about ‘you’re too young, you’re not ready,’” said Strawderman, 25, who is the youngest coach in the area. “But that’s just fuel to the fire. We’re ready. It’s good. This is what I’m called to do.”
He added about how he rebuilt the team in his first year to win seven games: “Really what it is, is identity. What is it? And so our identity is unity and just being a unit.”
The victory over the Thunder was satisfying for Strawderman, considering his first varsity snap was 10 years ago as a freshman at ODA. He threw a pick-six to Bradenton Christian.
On Friday, he led the Panthers to a blowout victory on the same field where his high school career began.
“It’s a very special game for me (Friday),” Strawderman said.
BCS led 7-0 at the break after Colton Dempsey’s 5-yard touchdown run capped the five-play, 22-yard drive following Baker’s long punt return.
The Panthers struck on their first possession of the second half before ODA trimmed the deficit in half at 14-7 through Jack Meyers’ 11-yard touchdown reception.
But Ben Bradshaw, a senior, weaved his way through ODA’s kick return unit for an 87-yard touchdown on the ensuing kickoff.
From there, BCS continued stretching its lead, while shutting down the Thunder with a stingy defense.
Dempsey finished with 120 rushing yards on 20 carries and a touchdown. Baker had two receiving touchdowns to lead the Panthers.
Those weren’t the only teams playing Friday.
Here’s a look at the Week 9 games with scores:
Venice 51, Palmetto 16
Sarasota Riverview 21, Manatee 14
Braden River 21, Punta Gorda Charlotte 10
Lakewood Ranch 10, St. Pete Gibbs 8
Bayshore 62, Marco Island Academy 0
Wesley Chapel Cypress Creek 41, Parrish Community 34
Sarasota 25, Southeast 6
Saint Stephen’s 29, Cape Coral Oasis 7
IMG Academy White 35, Orlando Lake Highland Prep 14
Naples Community School 41, IMG Academy Blue 13 (Thursday)
IMG Academy National 53, West Columbia, South Carolina Gray Collegiate Academy 7 (Thursday)
Swipe below for scores involving Bradenton-area programs:
