Braden River Defeats Booker 45-34 To Clinch Playoff Berth

SARASOTA-- The Braden River Pirates earned a playoff spot the hard way using a dominating ground game in its 45-34 district 3A victory over the Booker Tornadoes in Sarasota Friday night. Oladepo Kolawole rushed for a game-high 245 yards and scored twice while Javar Baity added three touchdowns as the Pirates earned their second straight playoff spot by clinching the number two position in the district.

Braden River Clinches Playoff Spot

The Pirates (3-5, 2-1) scored on its first six posessions including five touchdowns and a Kadin Kerns 33-yard field goal. Javar Baity put Braden River ahead 7-0 on a 14-yard run two plays into the game. Booker (4-4, 2-2) answered back on its next series when Jamaine Leverett connected with Ricky Jones on a slant route that went 85 yards for a touchdown. The Tornadoes have played without a designated regular kicker this season and were forced to go for two point conversions and forego any field goal attempts. That proved costly as Booker failed to score any points late in the second quarter when they had the ball as close as the Braden River one yard line.

The Pirates opened a 24-14 lead on Oladepo Kolawole’s 35 yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. Braden River opened the second half as it did the first with an impressive drive going 80 yards capped off by Javar Baity’s 11 yard touchdown run up the middle. Baity ran for 106 yards on 14 carries with three TD’s. Mike Glover had 145 yards on 13 attempts and scored a late touchdown. Quarterback Steven Ross attempted only three passes in the game with no completions.

Booker quarterback Jamaine Leverett had an impressive offensive night completing 19 of 32 for 352 yards and three touchdowns while running back Willie Abnar ran for two scores, but it was the inability of the Tornado defense to stop the Pirates relentless ground attack that cost Booker a chance to clinch a playoff spot.

Southeast’s 37-0 win over Lemon Bay Friday night clinched first place for the Seminoles and second position for Braden River in 3A District 10. The Pirates will wrap up its district schedule next week (Nov. 5) against Lemon Bay at Pirate Stadium which is also senior’s night.

A pod cast of the game is available by clicking here.

The Bradenton Times video post game show from the Booker press box is posted below.