Bryce Braden, Stratford football, Sr.
On the field: The Childress Bobcats had trouble containing Braden during the Stratford Elks 21-14 victory last Friday on Charlie Johnston Field at Fair Park Stadium.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pound bulldozer, ate up Childress on the ground for 137 yards on 19 carries with two touchdowns. Braden also chipped in 72 yards passing. On defense, Braden also did his job with 14 tackles while adding a blocked punt on special teams.
On the season, Braden has rushed for 472 yards with 10 TDs and threw for 545 yards with another score. Defensively, the senior already has 74 tackles with five sacks. For his career, Braden is currently sitting at an impressive 545 tackles.
Coach Jonathan Murphy: “After the bye week, I just feel we’re way more unified as a team and we’re starting to know who we are. We’re coming together and climbing to get better. Bryce is a big reason for that. He does everything for this team. He guides us and he is a young man with great character and integrity. He’s a very intelligent player and he’s like another coach on the field. His ability to run the ball as well as throw it makes us go and he calls the defense and is all over the place on that side as well.”
Braden: “We’re coming together especially after the bye week. We’re all having a lot more fun, and you can see it when we play. I feel like I’ve gotten better from last year. I’m in more control of both sides of the ball and that has to do with my teammates always being there and helping me. The goal right now is to just get better every week and make strides.”
About Braden
Favorite band or musician: Treaty Oak Revival
Favorite social media platform: Instagram
Favorite athlete: Taurean York
Bet you didn’t know: He shows goats for FFA.
Parents: Kevin and Heather Braden.