Pirates, Thunder hit the road

BRADEN RIVER — The Braden River High football team has become accustomed to having to find ways to win on the road.

Six of the Pirates 10 regular season games were away this season — and that doesn’t even include Braden River’s spring game and its Kickoff Classic, which were also both away games.

Braden River (4-6, 3-1 3A-10) is 3-3 in its road games this season, and tomorrow night, the Pirates will once again hit the road — only this time the stakes are higher.

The Pirates, who will be making their third straight playoff appearance, will travel to Winter Haven (9-1) to take on the District 9 champion Blue Devils in a Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinal. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

“It’s always tough with that longer travel to (maintain your) focus because you’re (away) rather than at home and in your own locker room,” coach Don Purvis said. “Sometimes it can be a distraction, but we’ve had to play six games on road this season and only four at home. So in that way our team has adapted well to playing on the road.”

Although if there’s one aspect that the players can draw on when they hit the road tomorrow night it’s the notion that they’ve been there before. Braden River is all too familiar with its regional quarterfinal opponent.

The Pirates and the Blue Devils met in last year’s regional quarterfinal, which Braden River won in double overtime.

“I think maybe psychologically the players have confidence that this is a team that we’ve beaten before,” Purvis said. “But this is a different team then last year.”

After losing their first three games of the season, the Pirates have won four of their last seven games during which they outscored their opponents 129-47 and notched a pair of shutouts.

“I think we’ve had a pretty steep learning curve,” Purvis said. “The coaches are new to the players and the players new to the coaches. Sometimes, it takes time to get players in the right positions and for the players to learn the system. But I believe the combination has worked itself out over the course of the year, and now we’re playing much better football then we were.”

Braden River’s late-season success can be attributed in large part to the development of its running game. Braden River has rushed for more than 1,400 yards this season, including a season-high 490 yards against Booker Oct. 29. The Pirates will look to the trio of Dipo Kolawale, Mike Glover and Javar Baity to once again help carry the offensive load.

“I expect the team to keep fighting and keep being resilient,” Purvis said. “I think that’s been their motto from the beginning. No matter what circumstances or problems they are facing on or off the field, they come to the practice field every day to get better and on game nights they fight to the end.”

THE OUT-OF-DOOR ACADEMY
The Out-of-Door Academy hosted its first football game in its own stadium earlier this season, and now, the Thunder is hoping it can host a playoff game there too.

But first ODA must win on the road. Similar to the Pirates, the Thunder will hit the road tomorrow night in the opening round of the playoffs.

ODA (6-3, 6-1) will travel to District 5 champion Lakeland Victory Christian Academy for a Class 1B-Region 3 semifinal. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

“Honestly, I prefer the road,” Timmons said. “We can concentrate better and eliminate the distractions that home games bring. Also, we have recent history to guide us. Glades Day went 4-0 on the road last year to win it all.”

ODA will be making its third playoff appearance tomorrow night, and the Thunder is looking to once again return to the state semifinals with the hopes of playing for a state title.

The Thunder enter tomorrow night’s regional semifinal coming off a 70-14 loss to The Villages during which the Buffalo rushed for more than 200 yards in the first half. In contrast, ODA was held to 35 yards on the ground for the entire game.

However, the sound defeat could have been just the wake up call the Thunder needed.

“We have to play consistent ball,” Timmons said. “We have to understand that it’s about the ‘now’ — there is no tomorrow. We must capture and seize the moment.”

Prior to last Friday’s loss, ODA had won four straight and had outscored its opponents 178-55. Offensively, the Thunder will look to sophomore quarterback Evan Wilson, who replaced starting quarterback Brian Ragone six weeks ago after he injured his collarbone. Wilson is 4-2 since taking over under center and has thrown for more than 1,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

ODA will also look to senior wide receiver Chris Ragone, who has hauled in 39 passes for more than 750 yards and 11 touchdowns. He’s also rushed for nearly 500 yards and five touchdowns.

Defensively, the Thunder will look to contain Victory Christian quarterbacks Demeitre Brim and Deonte Dempsey, who have led the Storm to a perfect 10-0 season.

“I think this team has a better understanding of what lies before it,” Timmons said. “(They know) what it’s going to take to beat a great team like Victory Christian.

“I think we as a team, if we keep continuing and improving; we believe good things lie ahead,” he added.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].