Bradwell Institute suffered a heartbreaking loss on the road Friday falling to Calvary Day 28-21 in a heated game that was tied with five minutes left on the clock.
Compared to last week it was obvious that a much more disciplined Tiger football team had arrived to the Cavaliers’ field.
The Tigers received the kickoff to start the game and notched a touchdown on their first offensive drive.
Tiger quarterback Duane Johnson handed the ball to Trevon McCoy who ducked under a Cavalier defender and rushed for 70 plus yards downfield getting his first Tiger touchdown of the year.
That gave the Hinesville boys a quick 7-0 lead.
The Bradwell boys had a chance to extend the lead after the Cavaliers coughed up the ball on the next offensive drive. Tiger running back Luther Echols powered through several Cavaliers and emerged unscathed rushing for 50 yards and another Tiger touchdown.
This one however was called back by the referees for a holding penalty. Trying to get back in the end zone the Tigers went to the passing game. The Cavaliers intercepted at their own three yard line.
Led by quarterback Salvador Calderon and running backs A.J Keene and Robert Heyward the Cavaliers ate up most of the first quarter clock and marched to the Tigers’ 20 yard line.
Keene rushed for the touchdown but that too was called back for a holding penalty.
As the game entered the second quarter the Cavaliers burst through the middle and ran to the outside scoring the tying touchdown.
Looking to gain momentum the Bradwell boys went back to the ground game with Tigers Stephen Felton, McCoy and Echols making most of the carries.
But Tiger sophomore Christian Evans started to make the task look easy rushing on two different plays for first downs. Senior linebacker Isiah Barnes stepped over to the offensive side of the game. Using his power and strength Barnes plowed through defenders for a 15 yard touchdown run.
The Bradwell boys held the Cavaliers to a three and punt. However the Tigers muffed the return and the Cavaliers took possession deep in Tiger territory.
That set up the three plays and short touchdown run by Heyward to tie the game again at 14 going into the intermission.
Tiger Terrius Crimiel was the return man and had already posted a 30 yard return in the first half. He received the kick to start the third quarter at the Tiger’s 20. When the dust settled he was at the Cavaliers’ 27.
The Hinesville boys had the chance to gain the lead. McCoy and Barnes pushed the ball all the way down to the half yard mark but the Tigers’ coughed up the ball and the Cavaliers took over at their own two yard line.
Calderon and the Cavaliers’ offense bought a little breathing room on a run and then went for the pass to the outside. Looking for redemption Felton jumped in front of the pass and got his first pick-six of the season.
The Tigers held the lead until late in the fourth quarter. With 5:14 on the clock Keene somehow broke through several Tigers changed direction and ran for a 40 plus yard gain and touchdown tying the game for a third time at 21.
The skies opened up and the rain pelted the players making for slippery conditions and harder for the Tigers to push forward on the ensuing offensive drive.
When the Cavaliers took over they used the sidelines and a pass to Marc Elton to take the 28-21lead.
The Tigers tired one final push but the clock sealed their loss.
The Bradwell boys are 0-2 and will host Richmond Hill next Friday in their first Region 3-AAAAA game.