CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Bradley Central coach Damon Floyd gathered up his football team Friday night for one last postgame talk this year, with some of the players still stunned by the Bears’ 27-24 loss to Farragut in the second round of the TSSAA Class 6A playoffs.
Since becoming the third coach as many seasons when he took over in 2006, Floyd has essentially built the Bears into being a consistently state-ranked team. What’s been lacking is postseason success. The Bears are setting the standard for football in Bradley County these days, but despite qualifying for the playoffs in 12 consecutive seasons, they have only advanced past the second round once in that run.
But there’s been optimism about certain teams. That was the case this year, especially after the Bears ran out to an 8-0 start and top-five ranking in the classification before losses in three of their final four games, ending with Friday’s loss to the Admirals (6-6).
That’s why after Floyd’s talk, he stood with his hands on his hips and his head down, trying to grasp what happened. That’s why defensive stalwart Josh Helsdon gave a long hug to fellow lineman Blake Johnson before walking to the big “B” on the 50-yard line and sitting by himself, only getting up to pose for pictures before sitting right back down, unable to shake how things ended.
The Bears (9-3) had defeated the Admirals 41-38 in the regular season, but it was the visitors who jumped out to a quick 10-0 advantage this time. Led by quarterback Dawson Moore, who threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 115 yards and another score, Farragut largely controlled the game.