Back-to-Back Champs

BRADEN RIVER — Braden River offensive lineman Alex Saguero summed up each of the Pirates past four seasons in a single word. 

Year one: Awful 

Year two: Progressive 

Year three: Great

Year four: Amazing 

Amazing indeed for Saguero and his fellow senior teammates, who limped through a 1-9 season four years ago only to walk off the field four years later as back-to-back district champions. 

“It’s awesome,” Saguero says. “Back-to-back district champs is awesome, but we are not done yet.” 

Braden River captured its second-consecutive Class 7A-District 11 title with a 35-0 dismantling of previously undefeated Palmetto Oct. 23 in front of a roaring crowd clad in pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month. With the win, the Pirates secured a home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs. 

“You stepped up and never held back,” head coach Curt Bradley told his players after the game. “I’m so proud of you guys. That scoreboard speaks more than any words could say.” 

Braden River took the opening kickoff and marched 69 yards in seven plays. Running back Raymond Thomas capped off the drive with a 9-yard touchdown run. 

The Pirates added to their lead on their ensuing possession on Jaylin Austin’s 17-yard run. Thomas was injured on the play and spent the remainder of the game on crutches on the sideline with ice wrapped around his knee. The extent of Thomas’ injury was unknown. 

Braden River added a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter. Quarterback Jacob Huesman connected with Austin for a 37-yard strike. Huesman then hit wide receiver Juwaan Jenkins, who broke a tackle and raced down the sideline for a 52-yard score. 

The Pirates sacked Palmetto quarterback three times in the first half and held the Tigers to just 70 yards on the ground en route to their third shutout of the season. It was the first time Palmetto had been blanked since 2012. 

Huesman scored the Pirates final touchdown of the night on a 3-yard keep to institute a running clock with 1:59 left in regulation. 

Braden River will now look to try and wrap up its second straight perfect regular season. The Pirates close out district play next week at Sarasota before hosting Gibbs Nov. 6, which will serve as both Homecoming and Senior Night. 

“I can wear a Braden River football shirt out in public these days — it was rough those first nine games,” Bradley says. “But we knew we had a special group of young men, and they started as freshmen and they lost early. And they didn’t want that to happen anymore.” 

Contact Jen Blanco at [email protected].