Bradley Central Hands Coach Floyd Birthday Victory Over Mustangs

CLEVELAND, Tenn. — Bradley Central bounced back in a big way Friday night, delivering longtime head coach Damon Floyd a memorable 48th birthday gift — a decisive 28-14 victory over sixth-ranked Walker Valley in the annual “County Conflict” at The MAC.

Senior running back Kenyon Phelps led the charge, rushing for 219 yards on 24 carries, including three touchdowns. His performance marked the 24th time in the program’s 109-year history a Bear has eclipsed the 200-yard mark on the ground.

“We knew this one wasn’t going to be flashy,” Floyd said after the game. “It was going to be tough, physical football, and that’s exactly how our guys played it. The offensive line deserves so much credit for what we did tonight. Kenyon ran hard, but they opened the door for him.”

The Bears, now 1-1 on the season, extended their dominance in the rivalry, winning for the 19th time in 21 meetings with Floyd on the sideline.

Ground Game vs. Air Attack

Bradley Central leaned almost exclusively on the run, piling up 296 yards on 42 attempts, while completing only three passes for six yards. Walker Valley, meanwhile, was stifled on the ground with just 13 rushing yards but made up for it through the air, totaling 305 passing yards and actually out-gaining Bradley 318-302 in overall offense.

Walker Valley head coach Drew Akins took the loss on himself:
“That’s on us as a coaching staff,” Akins admitted. “We didn’t prepare our kids well enough, and when you do that against a team like Bradley, they’ll take advantage.”

How It Happened

The Mustangs opened the game with a promising drive but failed to convert on a fourth down inside Bear territory. Bradley immediately turned momentum their way when Phelps ripped off a 27-yard run, eventually setting up Brayden Carroll’s one-yard touchdown for the game’s first score.

Moments later, a miscue on a Walker Valley punt gave Bradley a short field, and Phelps punched in his first touchdown from two yards out. He added two more scores — one from 21 yards in the second quarter and another from 15 yards early in the third — to put Bradley ahead 28-0.

Walker Valley refused to fold. Quarterback Chase Stephens connected on several key passes, including a 38-yard strike to Roman Eulo, who later scored on a one-yard Wildcat keeper. In the fourth quarter, Stephens found Luke Hayden for a 12-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-14, but the Bears ran out the clock to secure the win.

Defensive Standouts

Bradley’s “Black Hole Defense” lived up to its reputation, with AJ Westfield — a Tulane commit — recording four sacks and multiple tackles for loss. Zane McIntosh and Paul Stokes also contributed key stops to stall Mustang drives deep in Bear territory.

For Walker Valley, Hayden and Sawyer Boyd shined in the passing game. Boyd pulled down five catches for 120 yards, while Hayden had six grabs for 87 yards and a score. Stephens finished 19-of-29 for 305 yards.

What’s Next

Bradley Central returns home this week to face unbeaten Hardin Valley Academy in Region 2-6A play. The Hawks have scored 79 points in their first two outings.

Walker Valley also opens region play, squaring off against rival McMinn County, fresh off back-to-back wins over Cleveland and Bradley.

Final Score:
Bradley Central 28, Walker Valley 14

Key Performers:

Bradley Central: Phelps 219 yards rushing, 3 TDs; Carroll 38 yards, 1 TD; Westfield 4 sacks

Walker Valley: Stephens 305 passing yards, 1 TD; Boyd 120 yards receiving; Hayden 87 yards receiving, 1 TD