Football: Fleharty leads Hilliard Bradley to win at Dublin Jerome
Friday, September 15, 2023
By Scott Hennen
shennen@cbussports.com
Hilliard Bradley quarterback Bradyn Fleharty scrambles and would ultimately score on the play during the Jaguars’ 40-35 win at Dublin Jerome Sept. 15. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Bradyn Fleharty put up big numbers with his arm and feet Sept 15 to help Hilliard Bradley move to 5-0 for the first time since 2017.
The senior quarterback combined for 482 total yards to lead the visiting Jaguars past Dublin Jerome 40-35 in the final non-league contest for both squads.
However, it took junior linebacker Joe LoParo tipping away a fourth-down pass inside the red zone to seal the victory.
“We found a way to win and that’s the important thing,” said Bradley coach Mike LoParo, whose team will open OCC-Central Division play Sept. 22 at Upper Arlington. “We did some things that hurt us and Jerome kept playing hard. We knew it would be a tough game.
“Bradyn is electric. He can beat you with his feet or he can beat you with his arm. I would hate to try to defend him because you think you have him bottled up and he squirts out.”
Dublin Jerome’s CJ Infante runs the ball into the corner of the end zone for a touchdown against Hilliard Bradley Sept. 15. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Jerome lost its third consecutive game to drop to 2-3 before opening OCC-Cardinal play Sept. 22 at Thomas Worthington.
“(Fleharty) is one of the best players that I have coached against and I told him that after the game,” said Glass, whose team’s three losses are against teams with a combined 13-2. “He is a remarkable athlete, and I’m glad we won’t have to play him anymore. He’s faster than everyone out there and he understands the game probably better than anyone out there. He is a great high school football player.”
Fleharty rushed for 266 yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns. One was an 80-yard read-option that put the Jaguars up 40-28 in the final minute of the third quarter.
“I saw green grass and I was able to take off,” said Fleharty, who was 13-for-23 passing for 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception. “I was able to split the safety and corner and just take off.”
Hilliard Bradley’s Preston Wolfe heads to the end zone during the Jaguars’ win at Dublin Jerome Sept. 15 to remain undefeated. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The teams were tied at 21 when Bradley scored a pair of touchdowns for a 34-21 edge. The Celtics were playing without six players because of injury or illness including senior starting quarterback Kyle White. Stepping in was Nolan Peoples, who showed little or no jitters in the starting role. The sophomore was 23-for-37 for 259 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.
“(Peoples) came out as a sophomore and did a heck of a job of commanding that offense,” coach LoParo said. “Almost every throw that kid made was on the money. He was scary.”
Peoples connected with Braydon Alford on scoring passes of 34, 13 and 8 yards as well as a 9-yarder to C.J. Infante and a 7-yarder to Matty Giannantonio with 1 minute, 31 seconds remaining to pull his team within 5.
“We were down six starters and had a sophomore quarterback who had never thrown a varsity pass,” Glass said. “He competed his butt off along with everybody.”
Fleharty also had scoring runs of 21 and 4 yards and completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Shaffer. Nicolaj Kisin and Preston Wolfe had second-quarter scoring runs of 3 and 15 yards, respectively.
Fleharty finished 17 yards shy of the Jaguars’ single-game rushing mark. Blake Scipio holds that honor with a 282-yard effort in 2011 during a 61-7 win over Delaware.