Brady Bulldogs Fall to Comanche in Season Opener

BRADY— The Brady Bulldogs dropped their opening football game to the Comanche Indians on Friday, August 25, 37-8.

The Bulldogs played their home opener against the Comanche Indians and also the first game under new head coach Jaron Roberts. The Indians put up 37 points on the Bulldogs, but Brady showed flashes of brilliance in a team that is undergoing growing pains.

The Bulldogs won the coin toss and deferred to the second half. The Indians, with superstar running back Sawyer Wilkerson, were forced to punt on their opening possession. Even though Brady's defense stepped up, the offense wasn’t able to move the ball, and the Indians took over for a second time.

With 6:55 left in the first quarter, Comanche signal caller Layden Welch connected with Kyler Beaty on a 58-yard touchdown pass and, after missing the extra point, went up 6-0. When Brady got the football, Indian defender Kazden Thedford busted through the offensive line and sacked Bulldog quarterback Sean Jacoby.

With the Indians back on offense, Wilkerson fumbled the ball but jumped back on before the Bulldogs' defense could snag it. Later, inside the red zone and threatening to score, Welch scampered 15 yards for another touchdown. Comanche missed another kick, but still led 12-0.

To end the first quarter, Thedford dragged down Jacoby again for his second sack.

After the field flip and turnover on downs, the Indians were on offense again, and Wilkerson rushed for 24 yards to put Comanche close to the endzone. Brady’s Manny Ozuna and Johnny Menefield stuffed the Indians on two plays at the goal line, but Comanche persisted, and Wilkerson ended up with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to put the Indians up 18-0 with 8:49 left in the first half.

After the kickoff, Bulldog back Ezekiel Jones sprinted up the middle of the field for a huge 63-yard run before being tackled just short of the goal line. Then, with 8:10 left in the half, Menefield banged in a short score to put Brady on the board. After a successful two-point conversion, the Bulldogs cut the Indian’s lead 18-8.

Menefield made his presence felt with a pass breakup on the ensuing Comanche drive. The Indians were forced to punt the ball back to Brady,  and a possible swing in momentum for the Bulldogs ensued. On Brady’s next drive, they fumbled the ball and gave the Indians a short field, which Wilkerson powered his way for another touchdown. This time, the point after was good, and the Indians extended their lead 25-8 with 5:52 left in the half.

Jones rebounded and broke a huge run down the home sideline. After that, Jacoby attempted a deep ball down the Indian’s sideline for receiver Mason Airheart, only for Airheart to be interfered with by the Comanche cornerback.

The Bulldogs' drive stalled, and on a fourth-down trick play, Brady threw an interception. The first half would end after a Jacoby interception with eight seconds left.

Going into the second half, the Bulldogs were down 25-8.

The Indians came out and put up another touchdown with 5:43 left in the third quarter when wideout Ayden Fishback caught a 12-yard touchdown from Welch. This put the Indians up 31-8 with 5:43 left in the third, which would be the score going into the fourth quarter.

With 9:51 left in the game, Comanche threw another touchdown to go up 37-8. The Indians ended up with the ball again shortly after, and Welch threw an interception to Bulldog defender Ashton Ramsey. This was a quick trade-off as Jacoby then threw a pick back to the Indians. In the end, the Indians ended up winning 37-8.

Coach Roberts spoke after the game and said that his team cannot shoot themselves in the foot if they want to win football games. However, he was encouraged by certain plays and players.