BRADFORD — The scoreboard told one story Friday night. Bradford coach Bill Trevino saw another.
Wickliffe came away with a 41-7 victory over the Railroaders in the season opener, but for a Bradford program working to establish a new culture, Trevino saw something in his players he believes they can build on.
They didn’t quit.
“That was the biggest thing we wanted to switch up, changing culture, is that no quit,” Trevino said. “There’s ways to lose. And tonight was a way to lose.”
Wickliffe showed early why it entered the season with high expectations. The Blue Devils established their running game on their opening possession and marched down the field for a touchdown.
By the second quarter, the Blue Devils had pushed the advantage to 20-0.
That’s when Bradford began to show some of the fight Trevino has been trying to instill in his program.
The Railroaders began finding success through the air, picking up their first first down and drawing a pass interference penalty on another passing play. Quarterback Raiden Wombold kept another play alive by scrambling before finding a receiver for a sizable gain, helping move Bradford deep into Wickliffe territory.
Bradford finished the drive with a touchdown pass to junior Isaiah Purpus, who made the catch despite defensive pass interference.
With 4:12 remaining in the first half, Bradford had cut the deficit to 20-7.
“We’re back in the game,” Trevino said. “Right back in the game. Momentum is starting to swing, but we just, you know, a couple mistakes here.”
Wickliffe eventually regained control and built its lead to 41-7.
But with the outcome increasingly decided, Bradford continued to compete.
Even with the Railroaders facing a sizable deficit, the Bradford sideline remained engaged and energetic. That attitude carried onto the field, particularly on defense.
One of Bradford’s best sequences of the night came after a bad snap on a punt left Wickliffe with the ball near the Railroaders’ 1-yard line.
Rather than allowing the Blue Devils to punch in another score, Bradford’s defense dug in.
The Railroaders pushed Wickliffe backward and eventually stopped the Blue Devils on downs, turning away a first-and-goal opportunity from near the goal line.
Bradford’s defense later stopped Wickliffe on downs again.
“I’ve not seen a goal line stand versus a first-team offense in a long time,” Trevino said.
For a team facing a large deficit, those stops meant something to its coach.
Trevino said one of the biggest things he wants to change at Bradford is how his players respond when adversity hits.
“Compared to pasts, the kids would quit,” Trevino said. “Get down 14 points, and they just would roll over. And that’s the biggest thing we’re preaching. They just never quit.”
That message has been emphasized on the practice field as well.
Trevino said the Railroaders entered Friday night’s opener following their best week of practice so far, and he believes the effort against Wickliffe gives his players something tangible to carry forward.
“We got a great week of practice,” Trevino said. “It was the best week of practice we’ve had yet. And I think this is gonna build on it, and the kids are excited now.”
Bradford still has plenty of work ahead. Wickliffe exposed areas the Railroaders will need to improve as the season progresses, and mistakes proved costly Friday night.
But Trevino has also made it clear to his players that the work they put in during the week is supposed to prepare them for moments under the Friday night lights.
“We practice hard,” Trevino said. “Friday night is the reward.”
The Railroaders didn’t get the result they wanted in their opener.
They did, however, give their coach evidence that the culture he’s trying to build is beginning to take hold.
