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WSN15: Football Top Teams #15 - 2011 Kenosha Bradford Red Devils

12/04/2017, 9:23am CST
By Travis Wilson

The WSN15 series will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of WisSports.net by looking back at the top players, teams, and moments of the past 15 years (2003-2017). 

For the Top 15 Teams countdown, more than one season of a program was considered for inclusion on the list, as long as the seasons featured different waves of players. For example, the 2008 and 2012 teams of the same school would be considered, but not necessarily the 2012 and 2013 teams.

The Top 15 Teams countdown is not a "Who would beat who?" list, as that would be heavily weighted towards big schools. Factors in determining the Top 15 Teams included: how dominant the team was compared to contemporaries, how impressive the team was in big games, quality of competition faced, number of high-level players, and more.

Top 15 Teams: #15 - 2011 Kenosha Bradford Red Devils

The old saying about the whole being worth more than the sum of the parts could certainly apply to the 2011 Kenosha Bradford football team. The Red Devils did not have any player rush for more than 1000 yards, throw for more than 1000 yards, or have more than 250 receiving yards. 

However, Jed Kennedy's crew would go unbeaten through the regular season, putting up some impressive point totals, then march through a challenging playoff schedule to cap off a perfect 14-0 record and Division 1 state championship with a 7-0 win over Wisconsin Rapids in the title game.

The team's run to a championship came as a surprise to many people, as most would agree that the 2010 squad had more individual talent, including WFCA Offensive Player of the Year Melvin Gordon, a future Heisman Trophy finalist and NFL star. He put up ridiculous numbers in the 2010 season, averaging 12.7 yards per carry. He was joined in the backfield by dynamic junior Vonte Jackson, who averaged 13.7 yards per rush, and quarterback Gino DeBartolo, who threw for 907 yards and ran for 1,119. In addition to Gordon, future NFL player Trae Wanes was a senior on that team, though he missed much of the year due to injury. However, that team would lose to Franklin during the regular season to miss out on the Southeast Conference title, then fall to Waukesha West in the state semi-finals.

Kenosha Bradford's chances at a title in 2011 seemingly took a significant blow early in the year when Vonte Jackson injured his knee in the first game and was ruled out for the season. However, the team adjusted, employing a diverse backfield that saw five different players rush for at least 485 yards.

It was the defense that became the calling card for the Red Devils, especially in the playoffs. Bradford would limit five postseason opponents to just 11 points per game, including just the seventh shutout in Division 1 title game history. The defensive unit featured WFCA All-State picks Kevon Clunis on the defensive line and Quanzell Murphy at linebacker, with WFCA Honorable Mention All-State choice Jerry Nash patrolling the secondary.

That 2011 championship game victory over Wisconsin Rapids was perhaps a fitting way to closeout the season for Kenosha Bradford, as they found a way to get the job done despite no single rusher over 50 yards, with just 54 yards through the air. However, they limited Rapids' triple option offense to just 152 yards, as John Myers went in for the game-winning touchdown with 3:51 left in the game.

It would be the final season at Bradford for head coach Jed Kennedy, who would move on to Pulaski for a year before coaching in Florida for one season. He returned to Wisconsin in 2014 to lead the Brookfield Central program.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.

Tag(s): News Archive  News  Travis Wilson  WSN15