Football preview: Braden River High

BRADEN RIVER — Jimiah Albritton grew up under the Friday night lights of Pirate Stadium.

It was there on the gridiron where the Braden River senior outside linebacker learned the value of discipline, integrity, leadership and perseverance.

And it’s those same life lessons that Albritton is reminded of every time he straps on his helmet.

“Football is a sport that teaches you more than just (how to play the game),” Albritton says. “It teaches you about life. When you’re on the football field, as a player, you have to take it upon yourself to go hard every play. You have to step up and do the best you can to the best of your ability when nobody’s watching.”

Albritton began playing football when he was 5 years old, following in the footsteps of his father and older brother. But, it wasn’t until his sophomore year of high school, when he donned a Pirates jersey for the first time, that Albritton truly felt at home.

Standing alongside then first-year head coach Curt Bradley, Albritton was thrust into a starting role. But that first season didn’t come without its fair share of setbacks. Braden River was outscored by its opponents 322-34 in nine games and shutout five times.

But in the final game of his sophomore season, Albritton saw his teammates rally together as the Pirates posted a 28-7 victory against Palmetto Ridge in the final game of the season. The win, the first of the season, would ultimately serve as a building block for the 2013 season and beyond.

Albritton and his teammates took some hits along the way, but, with every hurdle, Albritton grew not only as a player but as a teammate.

“We almost grew up together,” Albritton says. “We were a young team then, but we were able to grow and be together. We learned what it means to be a team and play as a family.”

Last season, Albritton helped lead the Pirates to a 5-4 record — their first winning record since 2009.
Now in his third season as a starter for the Braden River defense, Albritton is poised to help the Pirates build on last season’s success and vie for one of the top two spots in the district — a feat Braden River fell short of last season.

“I think we have a very good chance of making it to the playoffs,” Albritton says. “We have more talent and discipline this season. The coaching staff that we have is just a bonus. If you don’t have discipline, then you don’t have anything.

“We have players who have been here, and I think we’ll be able to make it further than we have in the past,” Albritton says. “We have the work ethic to make it.”

With only six returning starters on this year’s defensive unit, Braden River will be forced to grow up quickly this season. The Pirates’ success this season hinders in part on Albritton’s success and his ability to lead the younger players and hold them accountable, both on and off the field.

“I’m a person who everyone looks up to,” Albritton says. “I don’t know that I do anything (special), but I’m a person who players come to. It’s something I embrace because it’s something I’ve always liked to do. I don’t think I’m better than anyone else, but I might be able to correct someone.

“I try to tell the younger guys, ‘You can’t be scared,’” Albritton says. “‘You’re young guys going up against big boys. Sooner or later it will all be over, so you can’t hold back. You have to give it your all.’”

Following this season, Albritton has aspirations of playing college football, a goal he hopes to achieve not only for himself, but for his father and brother who instilled the football tradition in him at a young age.

“My brother always told me to make it,” says Albritton, who has already drawn interest from Arkansas State University. “My dad was not financially able to go, so that’s why he tried to put me in a position to make it and be better. I’m not just playing for myself. I’m playing for me and him.”

By the Numbers
1 - The number of district games the Pirates won last season. They defeated eventual district champion Sarasota 30-27.

16 - The number of seniors on this year’s roster.

2009 - The last time Bra-den River had a winning record before finishing the 2013 season 5-4.

159 - The number of points the Pirates allowed in their four losses last season.

6 - The number of away games on Braden River’s schedule this season.

COACH’S CORNER
Curt Bradley, third year
What are your initial thoughts on this year’s team?
Hopefully we have a good mix of experience and youth. We have all five of our offensive linemen returning from last year. Behind them, we only have one returning starter, skill-wise. Hopefully, we’ll have the right combination of leadership up front and youthful exuberance (behind them). It’ll be up to the guys up front to allow the younger guys to make plays.

Defensively, Jimiah Albritton returns. He’s a three-year starter, so we’re going to count on him to make sure everyone is doing (their job). We have six starters returning, and we need to get the other five up to speed.

What will be your biggest strength?
Our offensive line. We’re returning all five of them. Not only do they play well together, but they are all good friends. We’re going to look for them to give us the edge that we’ll need on Friday nights because they’ve all grown up together.

What’s the one area that still needs improvement?
We’re going to have to grow up fast. If you look at our schedule, every Friday night is going to be a good football game. There are no easy games. From the first game to the last, we’re going to have to be ready to go.

How do you hope to build off last season?
We need a better showing in the district. We took our lumps my first year. Hopefully, we can take that next step and be able to compete in the district for one of the top two spots in the district.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you give your players heading into a new season?
It’s a new opportunity and good things can happen. My first year here, the (then) sophomores knew what it felt like to not succeed. Last year, they got a taste of that success. Now, it’s up to them to take it that next step, to become leaders and to create an expectation for this team.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
8 - Jimiah Albritton, senior, outside linebacker

78 - Alex Salguero, junior, offensive guard

4 - Raymond Thomas, sophomore, running back and wide receiver

2014 Schedule
Class 7A-District 10

Aug. 29 at North Fort Myers
Sept. 5 vs. Somerset Academy
Sept. 12 vs. Southeast
Sept. 19 at Lakewood Ranch*
Sept. 26 at Booker
Oct. 2 at Sarasota*
Oct. 10 at Bayshore (7 p.m.)
Oct. 17 BYE
Oct. 24 at North Port*
Oct. 31 vs. Palmetto*
Nov. 7 vs. DeSoto County
*Denotes district game; all games start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted

Click here to view the BRHS 2014 football roster.

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].