Tornadoes continue to struggle on gridiron
The Philadelphia Tornadoes will be looking for answers this week as they return to the practice field following their 46-28 loss to Bay Springs last Friday in prep football action.
Bay Springs proved to be hard to stop for the Tornado defense as the Bulldogs improved to 3-1.
“If we had had more grit about ourselves, we would have done better,” Tornadoes coach David Frey said. “They wanted it more than we did. I don’t have an excuse.”
The Tornadoes have another tough opponent Friday night when they visit West Lauderdale. The Knights come in a 3-1 following their 31-9 loss to Germantown.
The Tornadoes got off to good start. They punted after taking the opening kickoff. Bay Springs fumbled the ball and Philadelphia’s Imarion Black recovered it on the Bulldogs 45-yard line.
Two plays later, Tornadoes quarterback Bernard Parker connected with Dee Burnside on a 47-yard pass play that put Philadelphia on the Bay Springs 3-yard line. Bay Springs’ defense held the Tornadoes out of end zone, sacked the quarterback for 15-yard loss and took over on downs on their own 20-yard line. Bay Springs then put together a drive that resulted in a 25-yard TD pass on the first play of the second quarter. The extra point try was no good and Bay Springs led 6-0.
Both teams scored twice in the time remaining before the half. Philadelphia punted and the Bulldogs came back with a drive that was capped off with a 35-yard TD run. The try for two was good and the Bulldogs led 14-0 with 5:45 left in the half.
The Tornadoes got on the scoreboard when Burnside connected with Keathan Graham on a 55-yard touchdown pass play. The try for two failed and the Tornadoes trailed 14-6 with 5:30 left in 7he half.
The Bulldogs took the ensuing kickoff and drove in for another touchdown with score coming on a two-yard run. The try for two was good and Bay Springs led 22-6 with 2:13 left in the half.
The Tornadoes took the kickoff and scored on first down with a long pass to Graham. The try for two failed and Philadelphia trailed 22-12 at the half.
Bay Springs scored twice in the third quarter and led 38-12 at the break.
The teams exchanged scores. C.J. Rush scored on a 10-yard run for the Tornadoes and Bay Springs went 46-20. Burnside scored the final points of the game on a 10-yard run.
Parker completed 4-of-10 passes for 174 yards. Rush picked up 81 yards on 13 carries. Graham caught four passes for 154 yards.