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Bowers, Bradshaw Ready To Step Up

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By ADAM ADKINS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

BRANDON - DeAndre Bowers and Jarquez Bradshaw have waited for an opportunity like this for as long as they can remember.

Not since their days in youth football have Bowers and Bradshaw been thrust into the foreground, charged with being team leaders while playing a key role. As varsity players, they've been considered role players more than star players.

Finally, their time has come. But, it hasn't come without a load of pressure.

Bowers and Bradshaw, both seniors, have the unenviable task of replacing the Eagles' vaunted 2007 backfield of Samir Baker and Marquel Gilmore, who each rushed for more than 1,000 yards in leading the Eagles to seven wins and the Class 5A-District 7 title.

"It's a lot of pressure," Bowers said. "But I'm the team leader. I have to stay focused and just do what I do on the field."

Said Bradshaw: "I think it's a big thing for our offense and our whole team to know that they can count on us to get the job done at running back. I think we're both ready to step up."

Neither Bowers nor Bradshaw have logged extensive time in the backfield as varsity football players. Bowers hasn't been in the backfield since his freshman year at Jefferson, where he played fullback for the JV. Bradshaw has been in the backfield his entire high school career, but hasn't seen much playing time. He backed up Jarvis Giles at Gaither in 2006 and was the top Eagles backup last year.

Nevertheless, Brandon coach John Lima believes his new backfield duo is capable of performing at a high level.

"Those two players that graduated were phenomenal running backs. They had just great natural ability, power, speed, strength, all those things, What these guys bring is a little bit different," Lima said. "DeAndre is actually faster than Samir. He's been clocked in the 40-yard dash actually in two different places in the 4.3s, and Samir never ran that fast. So DeAndre brings an element that might be a little bit more explosive.

"Then Jarquez is just an excellent running back. His instincts, his vision, his leadership. ... Inside runs, he's the guy. He can make 15 or 20 yards when any of our other running backs might not make 10. He can see the hole, and he's real good at doing the right thing and making the right decisions and being able to make guys miss with both the power and his feet. He's really the full package, except he doesn't have that fifth gear like DeAndre has."

Bowers and Bradshaw may have to be just as good as Baker and Gilmore were in 2007 if the Eagles are to be successful in 2008.

Brandon's offense returns three starters - on the offensive line - and will have a QB under center who has yet to throw a varsity pass, so the Eagles are bound to rely heavily on their running game. And Bowers and Bradshaw are ready.

"This is what we've been waiting for," Bowers said. "Everybody gets their year. This is our year. We've just got to step it up."

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