Bradley Central student set to compete in Madden national tournament

Contributed photo / Jayce Standridge, who will be senior at Bradley Central High School in 2020-21, has become one of the top high school eSports Madden 2020 players in the country this year and will play in the eight-man national championship this weekend online.
Contributed photo / Jayce Standridge, who will be senior at Bradley Central High School in 2020-21, has become one of the top high school eSports Madden 2020 players in the country this year and will play in the eight-man national championship this weekend online.

What started as family bonding between him and his grandfather has led to Jayce Standridge becoming one of the top high school eSports "Madden 2020" players in the country.

Standridge has found tremendous success in the online playing format of the NFL video game with the Seattle Seahawks, showing a knack for making big plays on the defensive side of the ball with Bobby Wagner and picking apart defenses with quarterback Russell Wilson.

The upcoming Bradley Central senior will enter the first round of the Madden 2020 High School Esports League playoffs on Saturday. He is seeded sixth out of eight after going 5-2 in the regular season, during which he scored an average of 23 points and held his opponents to just 13 points per game.

"I have been playing Madden since 2009, when I played it with my grandpa on the (Nintendo) Wii," Standridge said. "He is a big (Tennessee) Titans fan, and I remember him playing with Chris Johnson and getting hooked. My love of football, Xbox and video games just matches so well. Over quarantine I have really been practicing a lot and getting better and better."

To be on the national stage is a major honor for Standridge, whose love for sports shines through during his play-by-play announcing of Bradley Central football and basketball games.

Ranking in the top 80% of Madden players in the nation, he stands a strong shot at making a deep playoff run as the first round begins with a best-of-three series.

He beat the No. 1 seed in the national tournament in a preseason match by overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 17-10 over an opponent who had gone 8-0 in the regular season.

"I was motivated by winning that game," Standridge said. "Even though it was a preseason game, it gave me the motivation and belief I could be really good. I have learned how to read plays and take pride in my defense being my bread and butter. I love playing with my middle linebacker Bobby Wagner and shutting opposing teams down."

In the first year ever for Bradley Central's eBears team, which is instructed by technology whiz Gwen Shroyer, history has been made by a versatile standout who also anchors the school news.

Standridge's favorite highlights on Madden 2020 include putting together nearly 500 all-purpose yards with Wilson in a single game. When in doubt, he turns to go-to receiving target DK Metcalf, whose speed, strength and jumping ability are all elite attributes.

"I never knew eSports could be a thing for me to do while in school," said Standridge, who is one of many elite online gamers in the local area, along with McCallie's "Overwatch" team. "I am so thankful that Bradley Central made this possible for me and my friends. We also have a 'Rainbox Six Siege' eSports team, and my friends love it.

"It's crazy to think I will be playing in the national tournament and I am getting this type of exposure. It means a lot to me to have this opportunity, and the support from people around me means a lot."

Targeting an eSports championship, he has prepared to try to stop some of the best offensive players in the league by practicing against teams such as the New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens. Stopping the likes of quarterbacks Patrick Mahomet of the Chiefs or Lamar Jackson of the Ravens is no easy task, but Standridge is up for the challenge if it comes his way.

"I love the defensive side of the ball," he said. "That's what has helped me get this far. I hope I can create some big turnovers. But I am going to enjoy this weekend and take a deep breath and just have fun playing a game I love."

Contact Patrick MacCoon at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.

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