RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Williamsport's Kyreek Bradshaw (3) gets past Selinsgrove's Gavin Bastian (1) during a high school football game at Williamsport on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024. Selinsgrove 21-20.

When Kyreek Bradshaw talks, Mike Pearson intently listens. He knows wisdom likely will be pouring out.

Pearson is the Williamsport coach but he understands leaders come from all ages and roles. He also realizes, he has a great one when it comes to his senior wide receiver/cornerback.

“Kyreek is a really cool person. When we talk, I listen very carefully because he’s very mature,” Pearson said. “Of all the kids I’ve known over the years, he might be at the top as far as being an unselfish leader.”

That maturity and leadership were tested last October when Bradshaw tore his ACL in Week 9 against Hazleton. An excellent season abruptly was cut short, and a basketball campaign filled with promise was wiped out before it started.

It was a crushing blow for a well-rounded athlete but he approached the situation like a person well beyond his years. Bradshaw believed he could turn this setback into an impressive comeback and certainly has succeeded. He has the gold medal to prove it.

Bradshaw leads the team in receiving and intercepted two passes last Friday as Williamsport blanked Wilkes-Barre, 14-0 and captured the District 2-4 Class AAAAAA championship. The Millionaires (7-5) are district champions for the first time since 2016 and host State College in Friday’s state tournament.

“I never had a doubt. I rehabbed very hard and throughout the rehab, my mindset was to get back on this field, so I can play with my team again,” Bradshaw said. “That’s what kept pushing me.”

It has pushed Bradshaw toward another strong season. He finished the regular season ninth among area players in catches and enters the final with 40 catches for 547 yards and seven touchdowns. Despite missing time last year, Bradshaw also has gone over 80 career catches.

From the season opener through last Friday, anyone watching Bradshaw play can hardly tell he is a little more than a year removed from suffering a devastating injury. That includes on defense where he has provided that stingy unit a jolt, helping it surrender just six points in two district playoff games.

“I feel great. I’ve never felt better,” Bradshaw said. “I have even more confidence now.”

“When he went down he didn’t know how he would come back, but he’s been strong and showing everyone how to be strong when things go wrong,” defensive end Jayden Ransom said. “He gives us big plays when we need them. He sets a great example and is a great leader.”

Bradshaw proved it again earlier this season. Pearson wants to see Bradshaw excel on the court this season as much as on the field. So, he did not want to overload the versatile senior as he worked back from injury. As such, Williamsport used Bradshaw only on offense throughout the first half of the season.

But as Williamsport prepared to face Selinsgrove and excellent receiver Gavin Bastian, a four-year starter who topped 150 career catches, Bradshaw volunteered to play cornerback. He said he was willing to shadow the all-state player all night.

Bradshaw has remained in the secondary since, providing depth to a quality group which has been especially strong the past two weeks. Bradshaw played a vital role in limiting 2,100-yard quarterback Jake Howe to 78 yards in the district final and his two interceptions were drive-killers, including one near the end zone.

“My expectations were take it day by day and handle it responsibly because I feel like Kyreek has such a bright future after graduation. When Kyreek and Yahzir (Slaughter) got hurt last year it was so disappointing because they were both doing so well,” Pearson said. “When he first came back I talked openly about wanting to see him healthy for basketball, but he said he could handle it against Selinsgrove and he’s done a good job since then.

“I wanted Kyreek to have a good senior year and be healthy, and he’s done way more than that.”

That Bradshaw wanted to do more and worked to establish himself in the secondary is not surprising. That’s just who he is. Bradshaw has proven it on the field, but just as important, he proved it when off it.

When times were dark in the days after tearing his ACL, Bradshaw looked for the light and worked toward it. Anyone who has suffered a season-ending injury can relate to the range of emotions Bradshaw experienced but after being knocked down he managed to keep moving forward.

That makes what he is doing this season even more rewarding.

“Losing sports was hard. Sports was my heart and losing it had me hurting,” Bradshaw said. “But when I was working, it made me feel good. It helped me stay motivated and it’s made me want to play even harder.”

That hard work has helped make he and his teammates champions. Every player has his fingerprints upon that district trophy, but having a player who can lead on and off the field sure provides a strong foundation to build upon.

Above the statistics, that is what Williamsport players and coaches like most about Bradshaw. His injury impacted his knee but not his heart. That keeps pounding strong as Williamsport keeps leaving its mark on program history.

“He will do anything and he did do anything and everything to help his team win a district title and not worry about statistics,” Pearson said. “Whatever Kyreek chooses after graduation, I know he has a bright future and can do amazing things because he’s a wonderful football player.”