The 2017 Bradshaw Mountain High School Bears football season didn’t start out as planned with the team dropping their first five games to start the campaign. However, after a 44-37 defeat to Flagstaff on their home turf in week five, the tide turned and Bradshaw Mountain High School won four of their last five contests. A loss to rival Prescott High School on the final game of the season ended their valiant march back into postseason contention. Second-year Bradshaw Mountain High School Football Head Coach Chuck Moller attributed the turn around to cleaning up play on the field.
WHAT CHANGED
“We started eliminating our mistakes and we started playing football without leaving the game on the field,” Moller said. “We didn’t have turnovers and we eliminated stupid penalties.”
A VETERAN TEAM IS READY TO POUNCE
Now a year later, the Bradshaw Mountain High School Bears return a veteran team that features 27 seniors and 22 juniors- according to AZPreps365– including senior quarterback Austin Gonzales.
“I think we have a great chance at going to the playoffs,” Gonzales said. “We have a veteran team, we’ve had a starting line since sophomore year…and we are pretty much returning the whole defense.”
“Our offensive line, this is going to be their third year starting for all of them, and we have a strong passing game,” Gonzales continued, adding a lot of work has been done this summer on the running game as well.
The football season lies just under a week away and Moller is liking what he sees from the veteran team.
“We like the kids we have, we like the kids that are returning and I’m seeing good things in practice so far,” Moller said.
SEASON STARTS ON THE ROAD
After starting the first two games of the season on the road, Bradshaw Mountain High School will play their first game in front of the home fans on Friday, August 31st against Youngker on a brand new field that was just installed over the summer.
“It’s going to be awesome, I can’t wait,” Gonzales said.
BRADSHAW MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PLAYERS TO WATCH BASED ON 2017 STATS
OFFENSE
1- Austin Gonzales (SR.) 15 TDs 1,411 YDs 7 INT I 433 RYDs 7 RTDs (rushing yards, rushing touchdowns)
2- Anthony Mata (SR.) 36 CAR. 174 YDS 3 TDs
3- Jacob Harding (SR.) 11 REC. 290 YDs
4- Elijah Knisely (SR.) 12 REC. 218 YDs
5- Logan Brannan (SR.) 31 CAR. 176 YDs
DEFENSE
1- Noah Shaver (JR.) 72 TOT TCKLs 8 TCKLs per game, 4 Sacks
2- Luke Huenemyer (SR.) 43 TOT TCKLs
3- Connor Scott (SR.) 41 TOT TCKLs
4- Elijah Knisely-Dixon (SR.) 38 TOT TCKLs
5- Logan Brannan (SR.) 36 TOT TCKLs
SPECIAL TEAMS
1- Luke Huenemyer (SR.) 16 PUNTS, 495 YDs, 30.9 AVG.
2- Logan Brannan (SR.) Kickoff Return Yards: 55, 11 AVG
3- Bobby Jones (SR.) Punt Return Yards: 74, 12.3 AVG.
SEASON SCHEDULE
Bradshaw Mountain @ Estrella Foothills: Friday, August 17th at 7:00 pm
Bradshaw Mountain @ Shadow Mountain High School: Friday, August 24th at 7:00 pm
Bradshaw Mountain vs. Youngker: Friday, August 31st at 7:00 pm
Bradshaw Mountain vs. Greenway: Friday, September 7th at 7:00 pm
*Bradshaw Mountain @ Lee Williams: Friday, September 14th at 7:00 pm
*Bradshaw Mountain @ Coconino: Friday, September 21st at 7:00 pm
*Bradshaw Mountain vs. Flagstaff: Friday, September 28th at 7:00 pm
*Bradshaw Mountain vs. Prescott: Friday, October 5th at 7:00 pm
*Bradshaw Mountain @ Mingus: Friday, October 12th at 7:00 pm
* Bradshaw Mountain vs. Mohave: Friday, October 19th at 7:00 pm
* Region Game
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