CBC coach Scott Pingel repeated it numerous times this season.

He accentuated the point one final time on Saturday night.

"Our defense doesn't get the credit that it deserves," he said.

Those days are over. The Cadets no longer are just an offensive juggernaut.

CBC used a staunch defense and three rushing touchdowns from Bryan Bradford to knock off Blue Springs 31-14 in the Class 6 football state championship game at Plaster Stadium on the Missouri State University campus.

“It feels really great, incredible," said Bradford, who had 123 yards on 29 carries. "We did what we wanted on offense, we did what we wanted on defense. Made great adjustments at half and took it away.”

The Cadets claimed their second state title — they also won the crown in 2014.

CBC (13-1) finished the season on a 12-game winning streak. It lost to brother school CBC of Memphis 36-27 on Aug. 25.

Junior quarterback Brett Gabbert helped the offense rack up 24 points in a span of 14 minutes and 30 seconds in the second half. Gabbert hit on 15 of 22 passes for 144 yards.

But this one belonged to the stop unit.

The Cadets threw a blanket over a Blue Springs team that had scored 34 points or more during each game of its postseason run.

Safety Lonell Boyd Jr. recorded five solo tackles and had a hand in seven other stops. Taylor Robinson and Malik Billingsley picked off passes. Luke Carey added a key sack and Larry Williams chipped in with six solo tackles.

"The offense steps up all the time," said Boyd, who also caught seven passes for 60 yards. "This time everybody stepped up."

Robinson turned in what might have been the biggest play of the game.

Blue Springs (11-3) climbed to within 7-6 and had the momentum on its side during a third-quarter march before Robinson stepped in front of a Chase Donohoe pass.

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