|
|
Bradford
coach Curtis talks with his team after falling to Marion Local Friday,
53-27.
CNO photo by Don Selanders, goroaders.com
|
|
Roaders show
pride in playoff loss
By George Starks
MARIA STEIN- After 30 years, the Bradford Railroaders got back to the
OHSAA football playoffs. The historic season came to an end Friday
night as Marion Local dropped a 53-27 loss on the Roaders at Maria
Stein.
Even though the final score doesn't reflect it, the Roaders played with
heart and pride, leaving it all on the field after the game.
"Marion Local is a good football team," said Bradford coach Curtis
Enis. "We are 30 kids strong and I'm very proud of them. This is the
mecca of football and we made it. This is a heck of a team and a great
group of kids and I couldn't be happier for them."
The Flyers got the first score of the game in the opening frame to take
a 6-0 lead after missing the extra point. Later in the quarter, the
Cross County Conference running back of the year, James Canan, romped
for a 57 yard score as the Roaders would gain a tie.
That run was enough to show the host Flyers that Bradford was there to
take care of business.
By the end of the half, Marion Local held a 41-6 advantage.
"Marion Local has a heck of a football team," said Bradford coach
Curtis Enis of the 2011 defending D-IV state champions. "Bradford is 30
kids strong and I couldn't be more proud of them. It's a long journey
when you're trying to get back to what I call the mecca of football.
They don't just hand out state playoff cards. You've got to earn that
and these kids have earned it. For all the running, conditioning and
lifting these kids have done over the summer until now, they've earned
the right to play week eleven and no one can take that away from them
regardless of the outcome."
When Enis arrived on the scene, the Bradford program had nowhere to go
but up.
"These kids were 1-9 when I took over the program," said Enis. "They
believed in what I was trying to teach them as a coach and moreover,
they believed in themselves. We tried to do the things that got us here
and there are things we can improve on. Not since 1983 has Bradford
been in the 11th week of football but now our 8-3 record will show that
we made it in 2012."
Despite losing a host of seniors, including Canan, Enis is positive
about the future of Railroader football.
"We are going to come back," Enis pointed out. "I want to come back as
well. I plan to be here next year."
|
|
|
|
