BENTON, Tenn. -- For those who ever doubted it, football players can keep a secret at Bradley Central, and more than 4,000 fans can attest to it.
The visiting Bears pulled the wraps off Logan Fetzner and the junior running back rolled up 235 yards and scored two touchdowns Friday in a 31-7 victory at Polk County. The first 100-yard game of his career came in a packed stadium that had fans stacked three-deep all the way around the fence.
"We had Justin Houston and James Stovall last year," said Fetzner, who played more of a blocking role for and secondary back to Houston, a 1,000-yard rusher. "The offensive line did an amazing job. The holes were big enough to drive a truck through."
Fetzner had six carries for 88 yards in the first half.
"We thought he'd be a good [primary] running back," Bears coach Damon Floyd said of the 5-foot-11, 195-pounder. "He was so unselfish last year and he was our secret coming into this game. He's a workhorse. The more carries he gets, the stronger he gets."
The Wildcats were well prepared for Bradley quarterback Bryce Copeland, taking away a lot of his opportunities, but he came up with several out-route completions to Cal Pickel in crucial situations, finishing the night with 66 yards on 7-of-14 passing success.
"They were dropping everybody [into coverage] and Logan took advantage of it," Copeland said. "I'm happy for him."
The Bears led 14-7 at halftime and easily could have trailed 21-14 if not for a couple of Polk turnovers inside the Bradley 20.
"We stayed in it early and played a pretty good first half. They just overwhelmed us in the second half," Wildcats coach Derrick Davis said. "Against a team like that you pretty much have to play perfect, turnover-free football."
Bradley took the lead on a 26-yard pass from Copeland to Caleb Cain with 1:47 to play in the first period, but bullish fullback Zach Miller, a 230-pounder, led Polk into a tie midway of the second period. Josh Silas scored from a yard out.
The Bears then used Fetzner's first score, a 20-yard run, to regain the lead with 3:30 to play in the second period. They broke it open in the third quarter after wearing the Wildcats down. Fetzner scored from 8 yards out, Baylor Terrell added the fourth score on an 11-yard run, and Clayton Steele added a 31-yard field goal to end the scoring.