Published: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Updated: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009

Pirates grind down Booker

EAST MANATEE — The 21-point lead vanished. The offense was stagnant, the defense sputtering. If things didn’t change quickly, the Braden River Pirates’ playoff chances would disappear into thin air.

Quarterback Ryan Fischer didn’t seemed fazed.

“We needed to get the ball into the end zone to win this game,” Fischer said. “There was no turning it over or giving it up on three downs. I had to get the ball into the end zone.”

Fischer’s 1-yard sneak launched the hosts past Booker 35-28 in a pivotal Class 3A-District 10 game on Friday.

“I was kind of nervous to do it the third time, but the offensive line said ‘Just follow me,’ and they made a triangle so I went right down the middle,” Fischer said.

Braden River’s game-winning drive encompassed all of 30 yards. The Pirates chewed up 2:10 off the clock as they ran seven plays — all of which were rushing.

Braden River (5-3, 2-1) had prime field position thanks to its special teams unit when 6-foot junior Christopher Calloway blocked a Booker punt.

Midway through the final drive, the Pirates were faced with a 4th-and-4. Fischer picked up the first down after getting Booker to jump offsides with a hard count.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak, as Braden River coach Ed Volz said he used last week’s bye to work on incorporating more passing to complement the ground game.

“We were able to get a stop when we needed to, and a drive when we needed to,” Volz said. “And it’s something to build on.”

Volz also shifted Bryant’s workload into a two-pronged rushing attack as Jaredd Pate spelled Bryant throughout the game in an effort to keep both fresh.

Bryant finished with 105 rushing yards on 19 carries and two touchdowns. The bruising tailback’s last run was a 14-yard gain to give the Pirates a 1st-and-goal at the 5 with just over a minute left to play.

Meanwhile, Booker scored 21 straight points to tie the game at 28 as quarterback Jamaine Leverett and running back Maurice Brooks produced the three scores.

However, Braden River’s victory ended Booker’s playoff chances.

The Pirates can wrap up back-to-back playoff berths with a win next week at Englewood Lemon Bay and a Bayshore loss against Southeast.