Braden River survives thriller

WINTER HAVEN — Kadin Kerns never had a chance to make a game-winning field goal this season. Braden River’s junior kicker thought he wouldn’t get the opportunity. The chance presented itself Friday in the Class 3A-Region 3 quarterfinals at Winter Haven, and he delivered.

Kerns nailed a 24-yard field goal, giving the Pirates a 24-21, double-overtime victory over the host Blue Devils (9-1).

With the win, Braden River will host Lake Wales, a 30-27 winner over Southeast, on Friday in the regional semifinals.

“I had faith in my blockers, I had faith in my holder, I had faith in my snapper, and I had faith in me, too,” Kerns said. “This feels great, because at the beginning of the year, I was inconsistent with my extra points, and I knew I had to step it up and do my job.”

The Pirates did their jobs in the second half.

Braden River (7-4) trailed 14-7 at halftime, but the defense tightened up, limiting Winter Haven to 20 yards of total offense in the second half.

That enabled the Pirates to hang around and eventually tie the game when quarterback Ryan Fischer capped an 18-play, 70-yard drive with a 1-yard plunge with 38 seconds left.

“We persevered and had some guys make some unbelievable plays,” Pirates coach Ed Volz said. “That’s playoff football, you got to find a way to make some plays. That’s what it came down to (Friday). Guys made plays when they had to.”

One of those players was Pirates wide receiver Sharrod Neasman-Glover.

Braden River had the ball first in overtime. On 2nd-and-goal from the 10-yard line, Neasman-Glover outjumped a Blue Devils defender to haul in a touchdown pass, giving the Pirates a 21-14 lead. Neasman-Glover had three catches for 20 yards in the game.

Winter Haven struck quick on its possession as quarterback Alex LaRue hit wide receiver J.T. Hawkins for a 10-yard touchdown, tying the game again and sending it into a second overtime.

Winter Haven got the first possession this time, and Bo Snively’s 35-yard field goal sailed wide left.

It was time for Kerns’ heroics.

For the second consecutive season Braden River won its opening-round playoff game on the road. Last season, the Pirates defeated Palmetto in the 3A-Region 3 quarterfinals. That was the first postseason win in school history. And thanks to a defense that stymied Winter Haven and an offense that woke up in the second half, Braden River will host its first playoff game next Friday.

“We knew we had to fly to the ball in the second half and shut them down, and that’s what we did,” Pirates senior linebacker Trevor Barnes said. “This is indescribable. This feels really good. We want to represent next week at home.”