Braden River Pirates' defense thwarts St. Pete Lakewood

Anyone that trekked north across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge looking at a glimpse into the 2016 Braden River Pirates were issued a reminder to the past.

Looking like last fall's state semifinal club that hauled in 29 interceptions, Braden River was at its ball-hawking ways once again in Thursday's spring football game at St. Petersburg Lakewood.

The Pirates managed five interceptions and one fumble recovery en route to a 37-6 blowout of the host Spartans.

"You put the ball in the air, and a lot of times they come down with it," Braden River head coach Curt Bradley said.

New starting defensive back, Desmine Ross, intercepted Lakewood quarterback Jaylen Shazell on the game's second play before adding a second pick in the second quarter.

"He told us he was going to get some picks," rising junior defensive back Tyrone Collins said. "And he stepped up."

Collins and Demetrius Lawson, who each recorded seven interceptions last fall, added one apiece on Thursday. Also joining the turnover party were linebacker Noah Arce, whose interception with roughly two minutes remaining in the first half was met with a nifty one-handed grab, and rising senior lineman Deqwunn McCobb, who recovered a fumble on Lakewood's first play following Ross' first interception.

Oh, there was some offense from the Pirates, too. That side of the ball features more replacements to last year's Final Four club, and there were a few early miscues with new starting quarterback Louis Colosimo tossing two interceptions and DeShaun Fenwick fumbling once.

However, both atoned in a big way with Colosimo settling into a groove and adding a rushing touchdown, while Fenwick ran in two touchdowns and routinely broke tackles for tough yardage all game.

There was also a glimpse into a potential three-headed rushing attack this fall after Raymond Thomas returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament with rising sophomore Knowledge McDaniel.

The tailback electrified the crowd with a 91-yard touchdown run to close out the third quarter that featured a broken tackle and shifty moves to avoid two other would-be tacklers.

"The future is bright for us for sure," Braden River offensive coordinator Eric Sanders said. "And it's not just him. We've got a boatload of young kids that have an opportunity to play out here."

This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 10:41 PM with the headline "Braden River Pirates' defense thwarts St. Pete Lakewood."