Panthers, Bratton have much in common
While his alma mater is enjoying one of its finest seasons in school history, former Lakeside High School standout Brian Bratton is having a fine year, too.
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Bratton is in his third season with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League. Like Lakeside, the Alouettes are piling up wins. With three games remaining in the regular season, Montreal already has wrapped up a playoff spot and boasts a league-best 13-2 record.
As a matter of fact, the team with the second best record is just 8-6-1, and Montreal leads their division by seven games.
Bratton, a former Furman University star, is doing his part for Montreal. He has caught 48 passes for 530 yards and one touchdown. He also averages 16.1 yards per kick return, and has returned one punt for 10 yards.
In 2008, Bratton had a career year as he hauled in seven touchdown passes and made 54 grabs for 641 yards. While his touchdown numbers are down this year, he has a chance to post career bests in catches and yards if he finishes strong.
In high school, Bratton was somewhat of a late bloomer. The versatile athlete turned heads late in his senior season when he rushed for more than 200 yards and three scores on eight carries after taking over at quarterback in a game against a very talented Butler team. That performance helped open some doors in recruiting, and Bratton was offered a scholarship to play at Furman.
He wasted little time in making an impact for the Paladins. As a freshman, Bratton earned national All-American honors when he led the nation in kick returning, averaging 37.2 yards per return. He also had a record-tying three kickoff returns for scores.
By the time he was a senior, Bratton had blossomed into one of the school's all-time best receivers. In 2004 he helped lead Furman to a 10-3 mark and a Southern Conference title. That season he earned All-Conference honors after catching 55 passes for 788 yards and a team-best nine touchdowns.
Bratton finished his career as Furman's second-leading pass catcher. He also was second all-time in touchdown grabs, and fifth in receiving yards.
Following his stellar college career, Bratton became just the eighth Furman player to sign an NFL contract when he inked with Atlanta. He spent time in camp with the Falcons and the Ravens, and played one season with the Cologne Centurions of NFL Europe, before he signed with Montreal in 2007.
Since then he has become a favorite with the coaching staff and fans in Canada.
You can follow Bratton on his Web site, www.brianbratton85.com.