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D-9 Game of the Week: Bradford at Brookville

Brookville quarterback Jack Krug and the Raiders take on Bradford Friday.

As part of our annual high school football coverage, the Times Observer has provided weekly previews for all the Warren County teams.

We’re going to expand on that a bit this year. We’ll still offer in-depth weekly preview stories for Eisenhower, Sheffield and Warren, but we’re also going to take a look around Districts 9 and 10 to highlight other important games.

Every team wants to start the season on a positive note, and there are some big contests going on throughout the district, but none may be as important to the landscape of District 9 as when Bradford travels to Brookville.

DISTRICT 9 GAME OF THE WEEK: BRADFORD (0-0)

at BROOKVILLE (0-0)

Both teams had major turnarounds last season to find their way into the playoffs. Brookville (9-2 in 2017) head coach Scott Park brought in former Brockway and DuBois head man Frank Varichetti to run the Raiders offense, and freshman quarterback Jack Krug flourished in the high octane scheme (2,856 yards, 40 touchdowns). Krug will be without his favorite target from last year, Bryan Dworek (85 receptions, 1,406 yards, 21 TD), in this one as Dworek is out with an ankle injury. The Raiders were more than just a high-powered offense. They forced 27 takeaways and allowed just 26.2 points per game defensively.

Bradford (7-3 in 2017) flourished in its second year as part of District 9. The Owls ran their way to a playoff appearance, but an early exit has them looking for a longer run this year. Gone is 1,500-yard rusher John Eakin, but John Ambrose (7.4 yards per carry) and Derek Sunafrank (5.9 ypc) are both back, while last year’s quarterback, Donny Pattison, moves to running back to give the Owls a three-headed monster in the backfield. Bradford was also stout defensively a year ago, giving up just 16.8 ppg.

Adding more intrigue to this matchup, the Raiders and Owls were the Nos. 1 and 3 teams, respectively, in the District 9 preseason Coaches Poll. Can the Owls knock off the No. 1 team in the season’s first game, or will the Raiders show everyone that last year was no fluke?

PREDICTION: Brookville 35, Bradford 31

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