BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Quarterback Nichelle Brown accounted for three touchdowns and also made two interceptions on defense in the Bradford High School girls flag football team’s 19-6 win over host Keystone Heights on April 6.
Bradford, which found the end zone just once in 2021, improved to 3-2. After opening this season with a 38-12 loss to Suwannee, the Tornadoes defeated Englewood 28-7 and Madison County 20-14.
Prior to the Keystone game, Bradford lost 14-6 to Ridgeview.
Brown had two runs that resulted in first downs on the first series of the game against Keystone (2-7). The Indians, though, stopped the drive when Judy Null intercepted a tipped pass.
Keystone’s offense picked up a first down on a run by Ella Hutchins, but Bradford’s Dariah Gilmore came up with an interception to put the Tornadoes’ offense back on the field.
Two straight runs by Brown resulted in a first down. A 9-yard pass from Brown to Aniyah Carroll later gave the Tornadoes a fourth-and-goal play at the 1-yard line. Brown scored on a run from there to make the score 6-0. The Keystone defense kept Brown out of the end zone on the two-point conversion attempt.
Hutchins got her team’s next offensive series off to a good start, picking up a first down on a run on the first play. Bradford’s Jadyn Lee made a tackle for a loss on the next play. The Indians eventually punted early in the second quarter.
Bradford went for it on a fourth-and-short play on the ensuing series, but Brown’s pass was picked off by the Indians’ Kendall Gagnon.
One play later, the Tornadoes had the ball back, with Brown intercepting a pass.
Keystone’s Amberley Carlton had a big defensive series following the change of possession. She tackled Brown twice behind the line of scrimmage and made another tackle that limited Carroll to a minimal gain as the Tornadoes, after gaining one first down on a run by Brown, were forced to punt.
The Indians’ offense took to the field with approximately two minutes remaining in the first half. They got first-down runs from Hutchins and quarterback Dezeray Bright, but two incomplete passes and a sack by Bradford’s Lee kept Keystone from scoring before time expired.
Keystone opened the second half with Lindsay Hovsepian avoiding a tackle by Bradford’s Gabby Oliver in the backfield and running her way to a first down. The Indians’ second play, however, resulted in Brown’s second interception.
A pass breakup by Aiyana James and a tackle by Ashley McCarthy helped force the Tornadoes’ offense to punt after three plays.
The Indians picked up a first down on a Hutchins run, but Bradford’s Jakayla Evans tackled Bright on two consecutive plays that helped force Keystone to eventually punt.
Bradford was finally able to put another score on the board before the third quarter ended. After carrying the ball on the first two plays of the drive (with one run resulting in a first down), Brown threw a pass to Santee Blye for a 20-yard touchdown. Brown’s pass on the two-point conversion was incomplete, but the Tornadoes now led 12-0.
Keystone’s next drive began with a long run by Hutchins for a first down. Three plays later, Hutchins again ran for a first down. The drive stalled, with Bradford’s Ajiyah Jackson recording a sack and Carroll breaking up a pass.
Brown eluded several tacklers on a 40-yard touchdown run with less than five minutes to play. Brown’s run on the one-point conversion was good, putting the Tornadoes ahead 19-0.
The Indians avoided the shutout when Jakayleia Bauer hauled in a deep pass from Bright, setting up Bright’s touchdown pass of less than 5 yards to Gagnon. Keystone went for three after the score, with Jackson sacking Bright.
Bradford played Baker County this past Tuesday and Wednesday and will host games against Middleburg on Tuesday, April 19, at 6 p.m. and against Columbia on Thursday, April 21, at 6 p.m.
Keystone played Lake Weir this past Tuesday and will travel to play Palatka on Thursday, April 14, at 6 p.m. The Indians travel to play Crescent City on Tuesday, April 19, at 6 p.m. before returning home to play Orange Park on Thursday, April 21, at 6 p.m.
