Bradley Central junior JJ Johnson picked off two passes and blocked a go-ahead field-goal attempt late in the fourth quarter to help the Bears escape with a 21-20 win at Red Bank on Friday night.
The Lions rushed for 125 yards in the first half as senior Austin Jones’ 8-yard touchdown run provided a 20-7 lead with 1:58 before halftime, but the visitors would respond.
Bradley Central tight end Jayvon James, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior, made his presence known in the two-minute drill as he had a pair of catches for 41 yards and scored his sixth touchdown of the season on a powerful rush from the wildcat formation to trim the deficit to six at the break.
TSSAA Class 6A’s Bears picked up their third straight victory since opening the season 0-2, but the defense had to hold its breath in the final seconds as a potential touchdown pass for Red Bank was dropped in the end zone on fourth down with less than a minute to play.
(READ MORE: Final scores and photos from Friday’s Chattanooga-area prep football games)