BRADENTON — If it wasn’t Jared Williams dashing for long runs, it was Zach Hammond hitting wide-open receivers for big gains.
And if it wasn’t Bradenton Prep’s defense making a gaggle of hits for no gain, it was the Patriots’ special teams laying points on the scoreboard.
In the end, host Bradenton Prep smashed Orlando West Oaks Academy 48-0 on Wednesday in the semifinal round of the Sunshine Independence Athletic Association playoffs.
“We are a balanced team, so we run the ball and throw the ball,” said Williams, who rushed for 109 yards on 12 carries and two touchdowns. “There are not many teams that are like us. We do our regular thing and hope we come out victorious.”
The Patriots (9-0) scored three times in the first quarter and took a commanding 35-0 lead into halftime.
Hammond connected on 7-of-9 passes for 179 yards and two scores, and wideout Mike Curry hauled in three passes for 91 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown reception in the first period.
Bradenton Prep hosts South Florida Prep, which defeated Jacksonville Potter House in the other semifinal Wednesday, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday for the title. The Patriots are 2-0 against Potter House this season and have outscored the team 97-0.
“All year, we’ve set our game plan to run the ball with No. 22 (Williams) up in there,” Bradenton Prep coach Joe Hammond said. “And once they put people in the box to stop him, we are going to hit you with the pass. So we understand that once teams start scooting up to stop the run that’s going to open up the pass.”
The Patriots defense was equally as dominant as their offense.
West Oaks was limited to -17 yards of total offense, and Bradenton Prep pitched its six shutout of the season.
The special team’s even got in on the scoring when Ja’Juan Pollock returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter.
“We just played hard and did what our coaches told us to do,” Patriots linebacker Bruce Livingston said. “Last time we played them we didn’t stop the pass good enough, but we succeed on that (Wednesday).”
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