CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Bradley Central offense gets all the love — averaging 36 points per game will do that — but as the tried-and-true adage goes, defense wins championships.
Given the Bears' defensive performance in Friday night's near-historic 37-14 win over Maryville, Bradley Central (12-0) is in great shape moving forward in the TSSAA Class 6A playoffs.
Bradley held the Red Rebels (7-5) to 220 total yards — 55 coming on one play — and intercepted four passes to earn a second win over Maryville this season, the first time the 17-time state champions have lost twice to the same team since 1986.
The Bears will host Bearden (9-3), a 23-20 winner over Jefferson County, in next week's quarterfinals. It will be Bradley's first appearance in that round since 2017.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday night's Chattanooga-area prep football games)
"I'm excited. Anytime you beat Maryville is big, and when you do it twice in one year, it's really special," Bradley coach Damon Floyd said. "We held them to 220 yards. I wouldn't have expected that, but defensive coordinator Brad Benefield deserves a lot of credit for having a great game plan."
While the defense shined, the Bradley offense was its usual lethal self, led by Boo Carter. The Tennessee-committed senior and super utility player had more than 250 yards and three touchdowns, including a game-turning 98-yard kickoff return late in the first half after the Rebels tied it at 14.
Carter started the scoring barely two minutes in on a 51-yard touchdown on a short shovel pass from Kaleb Martin, but Maryville tied it moments later when quarterback Will Jones made a late lateral to a fellow freshman, tight end Colton Faust, who went 48 yards for the score.
Bradley later faced fourth-and-18 from the Maryville 35, but Martin hit Jackson Wilson on a perfectly run seam route for a touchdown and 14-7 lead as the quarter ended. The Rebels tied it late in the second quarter on Gage Ladue's 3-yard run.
That's when Carter struck, taking the kickoff and heading straight upfield for the game-changing 98-yard return.
"Coach had seen something, so he switched us right before the kick," Carter said. "It was a middle return, and everybody made their blocks. I caught it and I went. They did all the hard work."
On the next offensive play, Wiley Suskawicz intercepted Jones at the 19, leading to a field goal and a 24-14 halftime lead.
"That changed the game," Floyd said of the surge. "If we don't score those 10 points before the half — and we have that horrible third quarter — we probably don't win this game.
"We always want to get the ball in Boo's hands, and he made it happen. Man, he's special."
After a scoreless third quarter in which Bradley had five penalties stall two good possessions, Carter capped a short drive to start the final quarter with a 12-yard run. He, Tito Williams and Martin had second-half interceptions as the Bears clamped down.
"Well, the third quarter was horrible, but we kept battling and settled down and got the win," Floyd said.
Martin ended with 156 yards passing and two scores while also adding 43 yards and a touchdown rushing, while Wilson had 78 total yards and a score. Tito Williams, AJ Williams, Braxton Arthur and Marcus Goree Jr. combined for 26 tackles for Bradley.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com.