Braden River’s run ends in OT

EAST MANATEE — As Ryan Fischer’s pass from the 5-yard line sailed through the air and into the end zone, Braden River’s season hung in the balance.

The sophomore’s final pass of the season fell into the arms of a Lake Wales defender, and with that, the visiting fans erupted in celebration as the Highlanders beat the Pirates 21-14 in overtime in the Class 3A-Region 3 semifinals.

“It was two pretty evenly matched football teams, and we battled,” Braden River coach Ed Volz said. “We had our chances to win, but we didn’t finish.”

The Pirates (7-5) held a 14-7 lead with eight minutes left in regulation, but Fischer was intercepted by defensive back Javess Blue at the Lake Wales 21-yard line.

Two plays later, Blue hauled in a 76-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Justin Shafer to tie the game 14-14. Blue finished the game with five catches for 116 yards.

With 3:25 to play, the Pirates responded with a nine-play, 81-yard drive that consumed nearly three minutes of the clock, but Kadin Kerns’ 44-yard field goal attempt was wide left, forcing overtime. Kerns also missed field goal attempts of 41 and 29 yards.

Both teams were no strangers to the extra period.

Braden River beat Winter Haven in double overtime last week, while the Highlanders (11-1) defeated Southeast in double overtime.

In overtime, each team gets a possession starting at the 10-yard line. Lake Wales got the first possession, and Shafer’s 1-yard plunge on third down gave the Highlanders the lead.

The Pirates, who were hosting a playoff game for the first time in school history, stalled at the 5-yard line, ending their season.

Senior running back Tevin Bryant led Braden River in rushing with 122 yards on 25 carries.

“I don’t believe in moral victories,” Volz said. “We’ve worked too hard, and you are in the playoffs. We had as many chances as they did to win this game. I don’t know what you take from this. Your kids played hard. You give yourself a chance to win it, and sometimes it works out, and sometimes it doesn’t.”

After Kevin Prioleau armed Lake Wales with a 7-0 lead on his 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, the Pirates got on the scoreboard when Ty Davious Williams stripped James Loydd and returned the ball 30 yards to tie the score 7-7 early in the third.

Braden River took the lead on Fischer’s 2-yard sneak on the first play of the fourth quarter.

But the Pirates couldn’t finish off Lake Wales, which rushed for 148 yards.

“I was proud of my kids, because we were able to run the ball against them, and that’s something other teams couldn’t do,” Lake Wales coach Rod Shafer said. “Braden River is an excellent team. There’s not much difference between our team, their team and Southeast. We’ve done a great job of holding it together.”