The Bradford football record book may require some Wite-Out after this season.

Gone are the days of the “wing-t” offense and its reliance on running the ball. The new era of Owls football is unfolding before our eyes, and at its core is a group of explosive receivers that are likely to shatter program records through the air.

First-year quarterback Elijah Fitton has garnered headlines for the eye-popping passing statistics he’s accrued through three games, and deservedly so. At the end of each pass, however, is one of the Owls’ handful of big-play targets.

Senior receivers Dalton Dixon and Jerid Wilmoth headline Bradford’s receiver group. Dixon has often appeared unguardable along the sideline, while Wilmoth’s speed makes him a threat anywhere on the field with the ball in his hands.

Add in junior Lucas Laktash, another speedy playmaker, and Bradford’s air-raid attack has options galore.

“Everybody wants to put a premium on the quarterback, and that’s absolutely true. The quarterback has to distribute the ball,” Bradford coach Jeff Puglio said. “But it’s on the receivers to make sure they’re getting to the right spots on the field. It’s not just running out there and running a post. Whatever concept we’re in, their landmarks are very exact.”

Dixon has recorded 24 receptions for 484 yards and four touchdowns through the team’s first four games. He’s already surpassed his reception (23), yardage (407) and touchdown (2) total from a year ago.

“It’s benefitting everybody because we’ve got a lot of fast guys on the field,” Dixon said of Bradford’s pass-heavy attack. “Running this offense is just opening it up for us.”

Fitton’s favorite target thus far, Dixon has torched each defensive back that has attempted to cover him one-on-one. He began to draw double coverage last week against Ridgway, something that Puglio said helps the Owls offense immensely.

“He’s making it really, really hard on opposing defenses to figure out how to handle him,” Puglio said. He’s hard to cover on the go-route. When he can (draw double coverage), it opens up a lot of things for everybody else. If they’re focusing two or three defenders on (Dixon), someone else is going to have an opportunity.”

Wilmoth has caught 19 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns. At 5-7, 140 pounds, he looks like a slot receiver, but can make plays on the perimeter, as well.

“There are a lot of targets, so everybody has fun,” Wilmoth said. “It’s a fast-paced offense. Coach has got a great scheme, everyone loves it and it’s just something new around here, switching from the wing-t.”

Laktash, who has played in just two of Bradford’s four games, has made seven receptions for 131 yards and two scores. Troy Adkins, a junior, has added 10 catches for 90 yards.

Each member of the aforementioned quartet has recorded a reception of over 25 yards, a testament to the big plays that have begun to define Bradford’s offense.

“If we get down and break a big play, it just gets the team into it,” Dixon said. “Who doesn’t like big plays? It’s what we need.”

Wilmoth agreed.

“When you’re at home, the fans are going, it just makes everyone more hyped,” Wilmoth said. “It’s new, so everyone has their own thoughts about it, but it’s been nothing but a blast. We’re just looking to put more points up on the board.”

Leadership has become another service that Bradford’s senior receivers provide, especially through adversity that has come through COVID-19 quarantines. 

“I come into practice every day and tell them, time flies,” Dixon said. “When we’re here, we practice to get better, we practice like we play and it will show on the field. We had the (quarantines) last week and a lot of underclassmen had to come in and step up. I think all the guys are starting to bring it now that they know we need them.”

Fitton has already posted 835 passing yards through three games, and Talan Reese has added 334 yards through the air in one start and two other appearances.

Fitton could easily surpass the thousand-yard mark Friday at Moniteau, where the Owls hope to grasp their first win of the season, facing the 0-3 Warriors.

“They’re bruisers,” Puglio said of Moniteau. “They’ve got a big running back that runs hard. They look like us a couple years ago.”

The Warriors rely heavily on their rushing attack, operating a style of offense that was commonplace in Bradford for decades.

“They’re a wing-t team, a buck sweep team,” Puglio said. “So we have some idea of how to defend that, since we played in it for so long. They’re going to run right at you. They attack you; they’re big; they’re physical. It’s going to be a test for us, so we’ve got to be ready to match that physicality.”

Bradford will still be somewhat short-handed due to ongoing COVID-related quarantines and injuries, but will have more familiar faces in the lineup than it did in Week 3’s loss to Ridgway.

Fitton will be back at QB after Reese filled in last week, making his first varsity start.

Puglio hasn’t allowed the roster shuffling to become a distraction, however.

“We’re not going to worry about it,” he said. “The message last week wasn’t about who wasn’t here, but rather about who was. It’s the same mentality. We feel good about the guys we have going Friday.”

The Owls and Warriors will kick off at 7 pm. Bradford’s last trip to Moniteau was in the fall of 2018, a 12-7 loss. 

“These kids have been working so hard since March. I want it so bad for them,” Puglio said. “They’ve done everything right, they’ve done all they can do, they’ve just got to get over that hump and get to the win.”