Pirate D shuts down Bayshore

Respond. Definition: to show a response or reaction to something. See also: the Braden River High School football team’s motto emphasized at every practice and game.

On Friday, the Pirates responded quick enough and came out with their first win of the season against Bayshore, a district game.

Never in Braden River’s short football history has the team gone 0-3. But it also had a new coaching staff come in this year and plenty of changes since the football program was founded. Head coach Don Purvis has expressed his confusion over the past weeks concerning his team’s record and was adamant on his team redeeming itself in their first district game of the season — a game that to Purvis said starts the “real season.”

“I’m real excited about it,” he said. “I know it’s been hard for the kids, I know it’s been hard for the school, I know it’s hard for parents, (and) it’s certainly been hard for the coaches.

“Nobody wants to be 0-3, but everybody wants to 1-0 in district and that where we had to get and that’s what we did,” Purvis said. “It’s a relief. I’m so proud. These kids had every opportunity to quit this season, and they never did.”

The game started off favoring the Bruins with a Cedric Washington touchdown late in the first quarter giving Bayshore (2-2) a 6-point lead.

The Pirates responded quickly after wide receiver Mike Glover caught a Ryan Fisher pass and scored a 53-yard touchdown for the Pirates to take the lead at 7-6. Senior Javar Baity then broke free from a tackle and leaped over players to set up a Kadin Kerns field goal late in the second quarter, which gave the Pirates a four-point lead heading into the half.

During the third, the Pirate defense stepped up their play with an Eric Foster recovery on a Bayshore fumble. Soon after, defensive back Jordan Edwards Picked a Bruins pass, running it back for 40 yards and a Pirate first down.

“That was the No. 1-ranked rushing offense in the county,” Purvis said. “We held them to 13 points, and they scored over 60 a week or two ago, so these guys are used to scoring a lot of points, and we just totally shut them down. It’s great coaching, and it’s great effort by the players.”

Edwards’ interception led to a Ryan Fischer touchdown and 10-point lead against the Bruins. On Bayshore’s next drive, they had another fumble recovered by Pirate Jamal Kearney.

Late in the third, Baity broke free for a 55- yard touchdown giving the Pirates their greatest lead of the game, 23-6.

“He (Baity) just keeps answering the call,” Purvis said. “He got dinged up a little in the middle of the game, and he didn’t even care. He just went right back in and went after it again, and it just tells you a lot about his character and his heart. He’s a very tough player.”

With seconds left in the third quarter Bayshore’s Alexander Mobley scored an 81-yard touchdown — the final of the game ending with a 23-13 win for the Pirates.

“Inspired football,” Purvis said of his team. “They played with intensity and passion for the game, and they were having fun and that’s one thing I think they’ve been lacking from trying to learn all this new stuff.
“It’s so great to see the guys just go out there and have fun and play, and they did that,” he said. “When they do that they turn loose, and they’re fun to watch.”

The Pirates will travel to Desoto this Friday to take on the Desoto Bulldogs. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.