Bradshaw comes through in first half: Senior place-kicker boots pair of field goals
In high school football, place-kickers usually don’t get much respect.
But Friday night, senior kicker David Bradshaw earned the respect of his team, and its fans, as he hit for two field goals in the first half against Clarksville.
Bradshaw hit for a 25-yarder with 2:12 to go in the first half to cut Clarksville’s lead to 20-3. Then in the second quarter, when a Pioneer drive stalled on the 27-yard line, Bradshaw was called upon again, and calmly booted a 44-yard field goal that sailed threw the uprights.
“I didn’t even think about the yardage,” Bradshaw said of his second field goal. “Coach Madwell told be to go out there and kick it, and I’m glade I could help the team.
“This was my longest field goal in a game, I had one last year of 35. And being Senior Night and all, it will be something I’ll never forget.”
The senior, who is also a member of the WCHS soccer team, said making his first attempt Friday gave him a boost of confidence for his second attempt.
“I just went out there and hit the ball good,” he said. “I knew it was going to be between the goalposts, I just wasn’t sure it was going to make it over the cross bar.”
Last year Bradshaw struggled at times, and felt as if he had let the team down. So this year, he came in determined to make the best of each opportunity.
“Last year I felt underrated and felt as if the coaches didn’t have much confidence in me,” he said. “This year I think the team and the coaches know I can go out there and make them.
“It always helps when you know they can depend on you. It’s just a good feeling when you can go out there and do something to help the team — especially on Senior Night.”
After Friday’s game, Madewell said he knew Bradshaw was capable of hitting kicks from long range, and had just been waiting for the chance to get him in there. Bradshaw had hit from that range in practice but Friday’s kick was his longest attempt in a game.
“He worked hard all year and we knew he had a strong leg,” Madewell said. “We just haven’t been in many situations this year to get him out there and kick one. We haven’t been on that end of the field very much.
“Bradshaw can be a weapon back there with his strong leg and his accuracy. I’m very proud of him, he did what we expected him to do. The opportunities he has had this year he made good on and it was a great thing to see him hit that 44-yarder on Senior Night. That was a long field goal and what better way to end your last game at home.”
Pioneers vs. Clarksville Statistics
Wildcats 32, Pioneers 13
CHS 20 6 0 6 — 32
WC 3 3 0 7 — 13
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Scoring Summary
First Quarter
CHS — Tario Frederick 50 interception return (Scott Orr pass to Matthew Griffith), 10:39.
CHS — Chris Fletcher 9 run (kick blocked), 8:26.
WCHS — David Bradshaw 25 field goal, 2:12.
CHS — Griffith 55 pass to Tario Frederick (kick blocked), 1:00.
Second Quarter
WCHS — Bradshaw 44 field goal, 8:03.
CHS — Brian Ligon 84 kickoff return (kick fail), 7:47.
Fourth Quarter
CHS — Fletcher 40 run (pass fail), 7:17.
WCHS — T.J. Jarvis 24 run (Bradshaw kick), :53.
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TEAM STATISTICS
WC CHS
First downs 14 6
Rushes-Yards 51-341 26-121
Passing Yards 10 84
Return Yards 0 50
Comp-Att-Int 1-5-1 3-7-0
Punts-Avg. 1-53 1-44
Fumbles-Lost 5-4 3-1
Penalties-Yds. 7-77 6-50
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INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Warren Co. Rushing: Ramsey Black 21-152, T.J. Jarvis 12-97, Justin Grissom 10-73, Cody Mitchell 8-19.
Clarksville Rushing: Chris Fletcher 10-56, Matthew Griffith 8-47, Dee McGregor 2-5, Brian Ligon 1-5, Grant Doughman 1-(minus-4), Brian Cohen 1-3, Tario Frederick 1-4, Trevor Payne 2-0.
Warren Co. Passing: Justin Grissom 1-5-1 10.
Clarksville Passing: Matthew Griffith 3-7-0 84, Brian Ligon 0-1-0 0.
Warren Co. Receiving: Cody Mitchell 1-10.
Clarksville Receiving: Tario Frederick 1-55, Lanis Frederick 1-4, Bobby Kane 1-25.
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Tackles (solo-assist-total)
Warren Co.: Heath Crisp 2-0-2, Cody Mitchell 2-3-5, Chris King 1-4-5, Cole Langford 1-3-4, Greg Cotten 0-4-4, Josh Holland 2-1-3, Tyler Boyd 0-2-2, Jimmy Cunningham 0-1-1, Terrance Crim 1-1-2, T.J. Jarvis 1-0-1, John Morrison 2-5-7, Chris Ashford 1-2-3, Davey Britton 1-0-1.
Clarksville: Grant Doughman 1-0-1, Wesley Fink 3-6-9, Brian Cohen 0-3-0, Chris Fletcher 2-1-3, Tario Frederick 3-9-12, Whit Henderson 1-0-1, Steven Howell 1-1-2, Brian Ligon 6-1-7, Dee McGRegor 1-0-1, Greg Alder 1-0-1, Tony Wentz 1-0-1, Dominique Cobbin 1-3-4, Michael Rye 3-3-6, Jefferson Defago 0-2-2, Tris Alexander 1-5-6, Chris West 2-1-3, Michael Davis 1-0-1, Matt Hart 3-2-5, Scott Orr 4-8-12.