MARYVILLE - After a slow start on offense in Friday night's TSSAA Class 6A quarterfinal at Maryville, Bradley Central finally looked to have some momentum after Clay Shoemaker capped a 15-play, 62-yard drive with a 29-yard field goal.
That momentum quickly faded.
The host Rebels scored 21 points in the final three minutes of the first half, highlighted by a Byron Brown interception return for a touchdown, on their way to a 45-10 win that ended the Bears' season.
Though Bradley coach Damon Floyd was obviously disappointed, he's not going to let that overshadow the positives of a 10-3 season.
"It was a blast," Floyd said. "The last four years with this senior group has just been a lot of fun. They have a really good time and came to work every day. They worked really hard every offseason. It didn't turn out the way we wanted it to, but it ends for everybody at some point.
"We would have liked to have a better showing than this, but it is what it is. (Maryville) has a great program, so all the credit goes to them. We have to take it like men because we got whipped, and that falls back on me for not having them prepared."
Bradley started 18 seniors Friday, and it was a senior who came up with the Bears' lone touchdown as Lameric Tucker pulled in a 29-yard score in the fourth quarter on a pass from Dylan Standifer.
"It was all about these seniors," Floyd said. "You wanted it so bad for them, but that's life. It's a life lesson that unfortunately we learned the hard way. But I couldn't be more proud of the way they battled every week. They're just Bradley Bears."