Blackmon shoots for
record
by Martin
Kester
mkester@mcherald.com
Bradford
Blackmon receives a lot of attention each week.
"You can hear four, five defensive players saying 'Watch 23,' " said
the St. Andrew's senior, "and pointing to where I am.
"You hear them say 'You're not going to get anything,' and I like to
prove people wrong."
He could start this week when the Saints (3-1) travel to Pelahatchie
(0-4). With one touchdown, the 5-foot-9 all-purpose back will set the
Madison County all-time touchdown record.
Blackmon is currently tied at 83 with Marvin Vaughan, of Velma Jackson.
"One of my friends said something about it a couple of weeks ago," said
Blackmon, "but I really haven't paid much attention to it. I'm more about
wins."
"He wants us to win," said St. Andrew's coach David Bradberry. "If he
scores a bunch, fine. If he doesn't score and we win, I think he's
completely happy.
"He knows that it's a team sport. (Bradford's) had a lot of touchdowns,
but he's also had some help in getting them."
Quarterback Conway Craig and Blackmon have started in the Saints'
backfield since they were sophomores and, "There are certain plays where I
have a feeling he's going to be open," said Craig, "or the defense will
give you something you can tell is going to break open.
"We also have certain plays that are designated just for him."
Last year those plays resulted in 1,247 rushing yards and 28 receptions
for 665 yards, but, "we kind of forced stuff to me until something
happened," said Blackmon. "This year we're sitting back until something
happens."
That change has opened the door for his teammates to shine. In the
season opener against Yazoo County, Blackmon found the end zone twice but
was held to 38 rushing yards.
Meanwhile Trevor Hanlon caught four passes for 50 yards and three
touchdowns in St. Andrew's 44-20 win.
"A lot of that was because of where Bradford was headed," said
Bradberry. "They're looking at him and we get a one-on-one."
"We have some other great receivers who will have single coverage,"
said Craig. "It's a little easier for them to get open, and I'll try to
get them the ball."
As a result, St. Andrew's has five different receivers with at least
five catches, and Craig is second on the team behind Blackmon with 239
yards rushing and three touchdowns.
"A lot of times the holes will be a lot bigger because they're focused
on Bradford," said Craig, "so I'll play fake to him and go up through the
line."
However, the focus on Blackmon is considerably less by colleges.
Despite an aggressive personal campaign, complete with his own Web site
(bradfordblackmon.com) and highlight reels on DVDs, he's only receiving,
"the standardized letters they send to all recruits."
They've come from Marshall, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and the University of
Florida, "sends a letter two, three times a week," but it's not the
recruitment process expected for someone who's averaged 2,800 all-purpose
yards the past two years.
"They think 2A competition and they think St. Andrew's doesn't play
anybody," said Blackmon. "But 2A is just the amount of talented players
you have, not the talent of the player.
"I just feel I'm being overlooked a little, but if you're there they're
going to find you wherever you are."
If they're looking, they can find him near the top of the state's
all-time touchdown list and in Pelahatchie on Friday.
That's if they can catch him.
