RMA football eyes next test
By PATRICK MASON ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Sports Writer
Friday, September 29, 2017
Jacob Braddy was like a sports car stuck in a school zone during Tuesday’s football practice.
The Rocky Mount Academy junior was on one knee watching a teammate boot long-distance field goals. Next, it was time for quarterback Isaiah Thomas to hone his reads, while Braddy ran routes despite the football never traveling through the air.
There wasn’t much of an opportunity for Braddy to show why he has been so tough for opponents to deal with - that is until he had the ball in his hands.
Braddy, the Eagles’ top running back, is in the middle of a standout season. He’s been the best player on the field through the Eagles’ five games. His coach, Terrell Hudgins, thinks Braddy might be the best player on any field.
He would know, too. Hudgins is around the dynamic player every day, and the magic of Braddy has yet to wear off.
“He’s probably the best player in the league right now,” Hudgins said. “He’s shifty, quick, hard to bring down and he keeps his eyes upfield.”
Braddy has scored 15 touchdowns this season, including a recent stretch where he turned his last six touches into five touchdowns. Braddy had six touchdowns through the same stretch last season.
“The line blocks really well this year,” Braddy said. “I keep my eyes up and run through the holes they give me. I got a little bit bigger this year so that helps, but I’ve always been kind of fast. Isaiah got a lot better passing, too, and you just see guys doing good things all over the place.”
The junior has been putting up monster stats, all while his teammates have followed suit. Thomas threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing score two weeks ago. Trey Smelcer, a kicker and tight end, has been another favorite target of Thomas.
It’s a mix between an explosive offense and a schedule of challengers that haven’t measured up that has the Eagles thinking about a state title. And at the center of it all has been Braddy.
The team hasn’t been tested yet this season on their way to a 5-0 start, the second such start in as many seasons. Next up is Faith Christian, a team that has run its own record to 4-0 in the program’s first year.
“We try to come out to practice like we’re facing any other team,” Braddy said. “But we’re excited to play (FCS). I’m not sure if it’s a rivalry because we haven’t played them before, but it will probably feel like it on Friday.”
RMA has shot up to No. 1 in the eight-man state rankings, while the Patriots sit at No. 4. The Eagles defense has allowed 66 points, while the offense has scored 290. No team has come within three touchdowns of the Eagles, and the lopsided scores mean that the starters haven’t played into the fourth quarter yet. That’s the only knock on the Eagles, if that’s even a problem.
“That’s OK,” senior lineman Thomas Griffin said. “We bring our intensity early, because at the start of the game it’s close and we can create those close-game situations. We have taken a huge step since last year, guys are understanding how to win and what it takes to beat teams. We don’t worry too much about not needing pressure moments at the end of the game.”
But Hudgins knows that practices are the best time to get in quality work. And as Tuesday’s practice began, he grew loud.
His players weren’t moving fast enough. Some walked to another drill, others offered a light jog. The third-year coach started practice over. Less than 15 minutes later, he threatened to do so again.
Hudgins knows that, soon, RMA will be tested. The next test comes against the Patriots.
By PATRICK MASON ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Sports Writer
Friday, September 29, 2017
Jacob Braddy was like a sports car stuck in a school zone during Tuesday’s football practice.
The Rocky Mount Academy junior was on one knee watching a teammate boot long-distance field goals. Next, it was time for quarterback Isaiah Thomas to hone his reads, while Braddy ran routes despite the football never traveling through the air.
There wasn’t much of an opportunity for Braddy to show why he has been so tough for opponents to deal with - that is until he had the ball in his hands.
Braddy, the Eagles’ top running back, is in the middle of a standout season. He’s been the best player on the field through the Eagles’ five games. His coach, Terrell Hudgins, thinks Braddy might be the best player on any field.
He would know, too. Hudgins is around the dynamic player every day, and the magic of Braddy has yet to wear off.
“He’s probably the best player in the league right now,” Hudgins said. “He’s shifty, quick, hard to bring down and he keeps his eyes upfield.”
Braddy has scored 15 touchdowns this season, including a recent stretch where he turned his last six touches into five touchdowns. Braddy had six touchdowns through the same stretch last season.
“The line blocks really well this year,” Braddy said. “I keep my eyes up and run through the holes they give me. I got a little bit bigger this year so that helps, but I’ve always been kind of fast. Isaiah got a lot better passing, too, and you just see guys doing good things all over the place.”
The junior has been putting up monster stats, all while his teammates have followed suit. Thomas threw four touchdown passes and added a rushing score two weeks ago. Trey Smelcer, a kicker and tight end, has been another favorite target of Thomas.
It’s a mix between an explosive offense and a schedule of challengers that haven’t measured up that has the Eagles thinking about a state title. And at the center of it all has been Braddy.
The team hasn’t been tested yet this season on their way to a 5-0 start, the second such start in as many seasons. Next up is Faith Christian, a team that has run its own record to 4-0 in the program’s first year.
“We try to come out to practice like we’re facing any other team,” Braddy said. “But we’re excited to play (FCS). I’m not sure if it’s a rivalry because we haven’t played them before, but it will probably feel like it on Friday.”
RMA has shot up to No. 1 in the eight-man state rankings, while the Patriots sit at No. 4. The Eagles defense has allowed 66 points, while the offense has scored 290. No team has come within three touchdowns of the Eagles, and the lopsided scores mean that the starters haven’t played into the fourth quarter yet. That’s the only knock on the Eagles, if that’s even a problem.
“That’s OK,” senior lineman Thomas Griffin said. “We bring our intensity early, because at the start of the game it’s close and we can create those close-game situations. We have taken a huge step since last year, guys are understanding how to win and what it takes to beat teams. We don’t worry too much about not needing pressure moments at the end of the game.”
But Hudgins knows that practices are the best time to get in quality work. And as Tuesday’s practice began, he grew loud.
His players weren’t moving fast enough. Some walked to another drill, others offered a light jog. The third-year coach started practice over. Less than 15 minutes later, he threatened to do so again.
Hudgins knows that, soon, RMA will be tested. The next test comes against the Patriots.
