Michael Bradley-Berks Catholic

Coming off a disappointing (5-6) season, Michael Bradley said the Saints are trying to prove their doubters wrong. Berks Catholic’s effort in the second half against Executive Education Academy Charter was undeniable. Bradley sprinted down the left sideline for a stunning 83-yard touchdown run with 2:44 remaining. The (1-1) Saints held off the (1-1) Raptors 19-14 at Forino Sports Complex. “I knew they were fast so I just ran for green grass. I tried to outrun anybody and everybody,” replied Bradley. The 5’11, 165-pound senior had a 6-yard TD run up the middle with 7:17 left to cap a 72-yard drive. The extra point, however, bounced off the left upright and Berks Catholic trailed 14-13. The Saints fell behind 14-0 at halftime. The Raptors, ranked #10 in the state in Class 2A by PennLive, were without starting quarterback Kris Cruz. He was injured in their opener. Junior Cazhiere Richardson got the nod at quarterback and tossed a 30-yard TD pass to Damon Young on their second possession. The screen pass was followed by Sylis Styles’ 2-point conversion run for an 8-0 advantage. Richardson escaped the pocket and heaved a 60-yard bomb to Jeremiah Rodriguez on the first play of the second quarter. That score came on fourth-and-10. Berks Catholic’s six possessions in the first half resulted in four punts, a fumble, and an interception by Young. “I’m so proud of the guys…We were down and out, but we told ourselves we gotta stick together,” emphasized Bradley. Momentum shifted when William Hess rolled right and hit sophomore tight end Jackson Kozik for a 53-yard touchdown with five minutes to go in the third period. The defender tripped at the 35-yard line which allowed Kozik to go untouched down the right sideline. Executive Education Academy had a 79-yard TD run by Jaiden Perez called back because of a block in the back with 4:40 left. The Raptors drove 59 yards to the Saints’ 10-yard line in the final seconds. Richardson’s high-arching pass was knocked down in the back corner of the end zone as time expired. Berks Catholic pitched a shutout for the final 35 minutes and 50 seconds. Before the final play, junior RB/CB Bryce Gumby was taken off the field on a stretcher. The Saints have two more state-ranked squads coming up next. They host Pope John Paul II and then travel to rival Wyomissing on Saturday, September 16th. “We just have to stay strong, get better every day at practice and put our hearts out on the field,” stated Bradley.