No. 2 – BRADEN RIVER PIRATES
2016: 9-2, 7A District 11 Runner-Up
Head Coach: Curt Bradley
Key Returners: WR/DB Tyrone Collins, RB/WR Deshaun Fenwick, SB/RB, MLB Chase Knopf, Knowledge McDaniel, DE/TE Taylor Upshaw
The Scoop: The Pirates know the deal - they have to compete in the same district as Venice. It will be the game most Braden River fans look to all September, with the two teams meeting at the end of the month (9/29). The Pirates’ two losses last season came to the Indians. They lost a shootout in October (10/14/16) 42-35 and then were eliminated from the playoffs by Venice (11/18/16) losing 64-42.
However, the team will need to focus early on with a September 8th meeting with crosstown powerhouse, Manatee. The Hurricanes have always owned Manatee County and are the number 9 team in the Spectrum Sports Preseason Top 20. Experts like Braden River to finally break through and beat Manatee (0-3 lifetime).
Braden River waived goodbye to their gift from Connecticut in QB Louis Colosimo. They turn the car, and keys, over to Sarasota transfer Bryan Gagg. The 6’3” junior QB looked sharp in the Pirates’ 42-13 spring game win over St. Petersburg-Lakewood. Coach Curt Bradley likes Gagg’s size and maturity, as well as his ability to connect with receivers throughout the summer.
Braden River has turned into an offensive juggernaut under the guidance of offensive coordinator Eric Sanders. In 2016, the Braden River offense’s lowest point total was 31 in a win over Lakewood Ranch. “Eric’s mindset and offensive ability make it so easy for me to focus on the defense,” said Bradley. “We are kind of like a two-headed monster. His head is all offense and it’s working really well.”
One area of focus will be the defense. In the Pirates’ first five games of the 2016 season, they allowed a total of just 28 points. In their sixth game, a loss to Venice, they gave up 42 points. Following a shutout win over Palmetto (35-0) the Pirates gave up 42 points in their next three games, before surrendering 64 to Venice in their playoff loss. The 176 points allowed is the most by a Curt Bradley team since 2013 (222 points allowed).
The talent is there, however. 82 D-I colleges came to Braden River to check out the talent. Three SEC schools got pledges: Deshaun Fenwick to South Carolina, Tyrone Collins to Missouri, and Taylor Upshaw to Florida. “We can look back and know we all came to the same high school,” said Fenwick. “And to know we will wear that SEC patch on our jerseys, on our diplomas, on our lives, it’s special.”
Quotable: “We will face adversity this season. But so will every other team in our district, our county, the entire area of Tampa Bay, and the state. Who handles it best? Who pushes through? That team wins the state title in December.” – Curt Bradley
2017 Schedule:
8/24 vs. Chatfield (CO)
9/1 vs. Clearwater
9/8 at Manatee
9/15 at Palmetto
9/29 vs. Venice
10/6 at Booker
10/13 at Sarasota
10/20 vs. Lakewood Ranch
10/27 vs. North Port
11/3 at St. Petersburg
The Story:
Braden River has turned into one of the premiere programs in the Bay Area.
But if you ask Head Coach Curt Bradley, it has been anything but easy.
“We went 1-9, 5-4, 10-1, and then finished 2015 off at 13-1,” said Bradley.
That 2015 season ended with a Regional Championship.
But 2016 was considered a “down” year due to the result – a 64-42 loss to Venice in the regional semifinals.
But this year, the Pirate players are not holding back on their goals.
“I expect us to go to states and win,” said senior defensive end Taylor Upshaw.
“We got a real young, but solid team this year,” says senior running back Deshaun Fenwick. “I think we got a real shot to do well and make a run at state.”
“I want to be a part of a winning program,” said Upshaw, who is committed to Florida. “I want to help this team win states and I want to do anything for this team to help us succeed.”
And there’s no reason to expect anything less. The Pirates will have key players back with South Carolina commit Deshaun Fenwick seizing control of the run game, and two-way player, Missouri pledge Tyrone Collins expected back midway through the season off an ACL injury.
The simple truth: the formula is there to get to Camping World Stadium.
“That always the goal at the start and end of every season,” said Bradley, who has been to one state semifinal. “We are always working for that and striving for winning. We have a talented group of teams in Class 7A. I expect over these next few seasons to have it be about five teams competing for a state championship.”
And Braden River plans on being a part of that conversation every year.