BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
It was the just another typical performance from the Bradford High School girls flag football team, which got six touchdown passes from Ar’Nayshia Griffin and the 11th shutout from its defense in a 38-0 win over visiting Baldwin in the quarterfinals of the District 2-1A tournament on April 18.
The Tornadoes, the number-one seed in the 10-team district, advanced to the semifinals, which will be played at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19, at BHS. The championship game will also be at BHS on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m.
Bradford (14-0) scored on the game’s first drive when Griffin threw a touchdown pass to Nichelle Brown. It was the first of four times the duo hooked up for a score.
The next time the Tornadoes had the ball, they scored on one play, with Brown hauling in a 38-yard touchdown pass to put Bradford ahead 12-0 in the first quarter.
Izarriah DeSue and Ajiyah Jackson broke up passes on Baldwin’s second possession, forcing the Indians to punt. Starting 30 yards away from the end zone, the Tornadoes got an 8-yard run from Griffin and a 17-yard reception by Khamyra Hankerson. Hankerson then caught a 5-yard touchdown pass on the third play of the second quarter. A Griffin run on the conversion attempt made it 19-0.
Griffin intercepted a pass while playing on defense, then threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brown to make the score 25-0.
Jada Hankerson intercepted a pass on Baldwin’s first possession of the second half. That led to a 12-yard touchdown reception by Jaydyn Lee and a 31-0 lead.
On Bradford’s next series, Brown caught a short pass and reversed field for a 39-yard touchdown. Griffin’s run on the conversion attempt was good, capping the scoring at 38-0.
The Tornadoes kept the defensive pressure going, with Jackson recording sacks on two straight plays on Baldwin’s ensuring series.
