Bradwell Institute took one step closer Friday to fulfilling its goal of a playoff berth.
The Tigers thumped Windsor Forest, 43-28, at Olvey Field to move to 2-1 in Region 3-AAAAA.
Bradwell immediately took it to the visitors, as the Tigers (3-3 overall) jumped to a 22-0 lead in the first quarter.
Once again, the Tigers used a solid running game to chip away at the Knights defense and control the game clock. Bradwell rushed for 266 yards and five touchdowns.
The Tiger defense held the Knights to 109 rushing yards, but it was the Knight’s passing game that kept the team within reach, especially in the second half.
Bradwell gave the fans plenty to cheer about during the first quarter, as the team seemed unstoppable. The Tigers methodically ran the ball downfield, which led to a Hubert Anderson 3-yard rushing touchdown and a Robert Miller extra-point kick.
The Tigers scored again when Anthony hit Michael Burnett with a 28-yard touchdown pass. Bradwell added a two-point conversion to go up, 15-0.
Just before the close of the first quarter, Bradwell’s Ziere Diggs found a seam and broke free for a 42-yard touchdown run. Miller kicked the extra point and the Knights were left scratching their heads as the scoreboard showed a 22-0 lead for Bradwell.
Still reeling, the Knights looked deflated when Anderson notched another touchdown, sprinting downfield 72 yards. Miller was on the mark again, and it was 29-0.
The Knights finally scored on a 2-yard run and converted for two points to go into the locker room at halftime trailing, 29-8.
But it was a whole new ball game in the second half, as the Knights opened the third quarter with a huge kick return that set up a 3-yard touchdown. The Tiger defense looked a little complacent in the second half, and the Knights jumped at the chance to catch up. Using the passing game, the Knights scored two more touchdowns on passes of 66 and 4 yards.
However, Windsor Forest also committed plenty of penalties, one of which set up the Tigers near the 50-yard line. Moments later, Sammie Clayton rushed to the outside for a 47-yard touchdown.
Anderson added to the scoring on a 1-yard push for a touchdown.
He finished the night 10-of-16 for 110 passing yards and a touchdown.
Anderson rushed for 152 yards on 11 carries and scored three touchdowns. Diggs and Clayton each had a touchdown and roughly 47 yards apiece.
According to the unofficial stats, Isiah Barnes led the Tiger defense with seven tackles. Anderson had five.
The win gives the Tiger program its best start since its playoff year of 2009.
Bradwell is on the road this Friday at Glynn Academy, a squad that beat the Tigers 55-0 last year.
Glynn Academy is 2-4 overall and 1-2 in region play, according to ga.prepcountry.com.