Hixson's Preston Wilkey (2) fakes a hand-off to James Cole (9), then runs for the first touchdown of the game against Bradley Central.CLEVELAND, Tenn. - Video study for the Bradley Central coaching staff will be a little painful this weekend.
The Bears turned the ball over four times but came up with some clutch defensive stands and were able to hold on for a 21-14 victory over Hixson on homecoming night Friday at Bear Stadium.
The win gives Bradley a 2-1 record headed into a District 5-AAA clash at rival Walker Valley next week, while the Wildcats fall to 2-2 overall and will host Howard.
Bradley, which was off last week, had eight fumbles and lost three, but sophomore quarterback Cole Copeland finished with 111 yards passing, 107 yards rushing and two touchdowns, including what turned out to be the game-winner from 12 yards late in the third quarter.
"We looked like we'd had a week off," Bradley coach Damon Floyd said. "I thought three games into the season we'd have some things fixed, but we don't."
Hixson struggled to get its running game going, finishing with only 138 yards on the ground on 30 attempts. Seventy-two of those yards came on one carry -- a touchdown run by Preston Wilkey in the second quarter for the first points of the game.
Bradley answered midway through the second quarter, as Christian Hamilton finished off a 14-play, 76-yard drive with a 9-yard run.
The Bears fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half, and Hixson wasted no time answering, with Wilkey passing to Jordan Johnson on a short slant route that turned into a 39-yard touchdown run. Bradley answered again, with Copeland scoring from 3 yards out. He had a big 26-yard completion to lanky sophomore Trevon Hill and a 25-yard scamper of his own prior to covering the last 3 yards going around left end.
After Copeland's second score, the Wildcats had their final three possessions of the game end in the red zone. Bradley's Ryan Still caught Wilkey from behind at the 4 on one occasion; the second ended with a Jamey Billups sack; and the final drive ended with a Wilkey incomplete pass with seven seconds remaining at the Bradley 14.
In addition, the Wildcats had 11 penalties for 65 yards -- a couple of which happened in the red zone.
"I have to take the blame for this one," Hixson coach Dan Duff said. "I have to find a way for us to get it in when we're that close. The guys played hard -- you hate to lose that way. We have to get the ball in the end zone when we're down there, and we didn't do that tonight."
Hamilton finished with 77 yards rushing for Bradley. Hixson's Johnson had four catches for 50 yards.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.