CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Posting its largest win in 22 seasons over archrival Bradley Central, eighth-ranked Cleveland dominated from the get go Friday evening, at Benny Monroe Stadium.

"We told the kids before the game to 'Make it about us,'" explained second-year head coach Chris Brown after his Blue Raiders ran away with a 44-10 victory in the "Crosstown Clash."

"We still haven't played our best game yet. I would like to see that."

Turning last year's 1-9 record around, Cleveland is 6-1 overall, plus 2-1 and tied with No.

10 Oak Ridge for second place in the Region 2-6A race, with a 35-14 victory over the Wildcats for a tie-breaker advantage.

Bradley slips to 3-4 on the campaign and 2-2 in region play and will host Soddy Daisy (3-4) Friday evening in the only game in town next week as the Raiders and Walker Valley both have bye weeks with the schools on fall break.

RAIDERS 44, BEARS 10: Cleveland started its largest win over Bradley since a 35-0 shutout in 2004, by scoring on the game's third play from scrimmage with sophomore Zayvian Jarrett found the end zone on a 25-yard "Pick 6" for the first of four Bear turnovers on the night, three of which came in the opening quarter.

After the visitors were able to pick up a pair of first downs on the ensuing possession, they were forced to punt, pinning the host on their own 10 yard line.

In its first offensive possession, Cleveland marched 90 yards on just six plays, with sophomore Tyrell Amerson carrying the ball up the middle untouched for a 26-yard scoring dash at the 5:03 mark.

On his way to compiling 146 yards on just nine carries (16.2 ypc average), Amerson also ripped off a 33-yard run earlier in the drive.

The second Bradley miscue came on the ensuing kickoff when the ball was fumbled and scooped up by junior Cam Wilson and returned to the Bear 5, but a Raider unsportsmanlike conduct penalty after the play moved the ball back to the 20.

After giving up a 10-yard run for a first down by senior Anthony Eddins, the Bradley defense stiffened, driving the hosts back a yard in three plays.

Junior Rader Brose came on to split the uprights on a 28-yard field goal just nine minutes into the contest.

The Bear offense coughed the ball up on the second snap after the kickoff, giving another golden scoring opportunity with possession just 30 yards from paydirt.

However, the Bradley defense once again rose to the occasion after an initial 17-yard run by Amerson, this time throwing the Raider offense for a two-yard loss in a trio of plays, with Brose 33-yard field goal attempt missing the goal posts.

The Cleveland "D" then forced a three-and-out, and a short 27-yard punt gave the Raiders the ball in Bear territory once again, at the 46.

A trio of double-digit completions moved the ball down the field, with a 12-yard scoring toss to senior TE Lakorious Eddins and a Brose extra point put the visitors in a 24-0 hole at the 7:56 mark of the second frame.

Bradley finally got some offensive spark on the first play after the ensuing kickoff, when junior QB Tucker Cook hit a streaking classmate, Terry Goldston, who outran the Raider defenders for a 65-yard touchdown with 7:49 on the clock.

Bear junior kicker Noah Canales then executed a successful onside kick, which bounced off a Cleveland defender before Goldston pounced on the loose pigskin near midfield.

Bradley went to its bag of tricks once again on the first play when senior Jayvon James caught a lateral pass and then pulled up and fired the ball to junior Terrell Goldston for a 30-yard gain. However, a Bear unsportsmanlike conduct flag moved the ball back to the Raider 37.

Cook then found Terry Goldston again for 25 yards and freshman Hezekiah Thomas spun away from a trio of would-be tacklers two plays later to move the ball to the 8 yard line.

Once again though, the Bears had trouble on third down with a 14-yard loss after another fumble, which this time they were able to recover.

Pushed back to the 19-yard line and facing fourth down, Canales trotted onto the field and booted a 36-yard field goal to cut the difference to 14 points with 5:15 left in the opening half.

Cleveland responded to the quick Bradley strikes with an 88-yard, nine-play march with Amerson covering the final dozen yards to the end zone and Brose making it a 31-10 advantage at the intermission.

Getting the ball to start the second half, the Raiders added to their lead with an 83-yard scoring series, which Anthony Eddins capped with a nine-yard scoring dash.

After the teams traded punts, former Bear Jeremiah Brownlow hurt his old team with an interception, which he returned 24 yards to the Bear 39.

Amerson covered that distance on the first snap for the game's final TD and Brose tacked on the extra point for the 44-10 final tally with 1:39 on the third quarter clock.

Cleveland came close to scoring in the final frame, marching to the Bear 8 before Bradley sophomore OLB Isaac Page recovered a fumble to end the threat.

The Raiders 433 yards of offense, with 277 on the ground, with McGowan gaining 80 on a dozen carries, plus the North Alabama commit completed 11-of-18 aerials for 166 yards.

Bradley was held to 204 offensive yards, completing 8-of-18 passes for 155 yards.

GAME SUMMARY
Region 2-6A
Friday,Oct. 2
at Benny Monroe Stadium
Scoring
Bradley 0 10 0 0 - 10
Cleveland 17 14 13 0 - 44
First Quarter
C — Zayvian Jarrett 25-yd interception return (Rader Brose kick), 10:20
C - Tyrell Amerson 23-yd run (Brose kick), 5:03
C - Brose 28-yd field goal, 2:39
Second Quarter
C - Lakorious Eddins 12-yd pass from Kason McGowan (Brose kick), 7:56
BC - Terry Goldston 65-yd pass from Tucker Cook (Noah Canales kick, 7:49
BC - Canales 36-yd field goal, 5:15
C - Amerson 44-yd run (Brose kick), 1:37
Third Quarter
C - Anthony Eddins 4-yd run (pass failed), 7:58
C - Amerson 39-yd run (Brose kick), 1:39

TEAM STATS
BC C
First Downs 8 22
Rushing 24-49 37-277
Passing 155 166
Total Yards 204 443
Comp-Att-Int 8-18-2 11-18-0
Fumbles (lost) 5-2 2-1
Punts 5-37.8 1-32
Penalties-Yards 7-85 6-75

INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING: Hezekiah Thomas 12-41, Padon Parker Price 3-7, No. 10 (name not on roster) 3-4, Jayvon James 1-3, Kaden Cantrell 1-0, Tucker Cook 4- -6 (BC); Tyrell Amerson 9-147 3 TDs, Kason McGowan 12-80, Anthony Eddins 13-47, Zayvian Jarrett 2-3, Daxton Evans 1-0 (C).
PASSING: Tucker Cook 7-17-2 125 yd, TDs; Jayvon James 1--1-0 30 (BC); Kyree Scott 2-30, Kason McGowan 11-18-0 166 yds, TD (C).
RECEIVING: Terry Goldston 4-112 TD, Terrell Goldston 1-30, Hezekiah Thomas 3-13 (BC); Kyreece Westfield 3-49, Daxton Evans 2-44, No. 14 (name not on roster) 1-16, Lakorious Eddins 1-12 TD, Jeremiah Brownlow 1-4 (C).
RECORDS: Bradley Central 3-4, 2-2 in Region 2-6A; Cleveland 6-1, 2-1 Region 2-6A.
NEXT: Soddy Daisy at Bradley Central; Cleveland has a bye, Friday, Oct. 9, 7 p.m.