BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Time after time, Bradford High School’s defense denied Paxon, making a total of four interceptions inside its own 5-yard line, but the visiting Eagles found the end zone on a 37-yard pass play with approximately one minute remaining as the Tornadoes lost a Region 1-1A flag football quarterfinal game 7-0 on April 26 in Starke.
It brought to an end an incredible season that Bradford Head Coach John Staples said no one could’ve predicted — 16-1, first-ever district championship and first-ever postseason appearance. Bradford scored a total of 567 points while giving up only 53.
“Tonight, we came out on the short end, but I’m so proud,” Staples said.
Paxon (13-3) advances to the May 3 semifinals to play Choctawhatchee (15-2).
Staples said he knew his team was in for a tough game, especially considering that Bradford was without Nichelle Brown, who was injured in the previous game. Brown was the team’s leading receiver with 1,969 yards and second-leading rusher with 909 yards. She had 43 touchdowns receiving and rushing.
“We knew we were going to have to grind one out tonight,” Staples said. “The odds were stacked against us. We had the best player in the state of Florida not playing, but that’s not an excuse. We had our chances tonight.”
One of those chances occurred on the Tornadoes’ second drive. Ar’Nayshia Griffin rushed for 17 yards on two carries and completed three passes to Khamyra Hankerson for 18 yards as Bradford gave itself first-and-goal at the Paxon 13. Paxon’s Ansley Hicks intercepted a pass inside the 5-yard line to put an end to the scoring threat.
Hicks was the Eagles’ biggest playmaker on offense as she accounted for almost 130 yards. Her 25-yard run following her interception gave Paxon a first down at the Braford 26. The Eagles’ Reese Holman then threw a pass that was picked off by Griffin inside the 10 and returned to the Bradford 32.
A 9-yard reception by Kimber Woods moved Bradford past midfield, but the Tornadoes eventually punted after a personal-foul penalty hurt their efforts. Hicks returned the punt 24 yards, giving the Paxon offense the ball 1 yard shy of midfield.
The Eagles lost yardage on their first two plays following the change of possession, but a 17-yard reception by Nina Kama-Hill resulted in a first down at the Bradford 26. Four straight incompletions then resulted in a turnover on downs.
Paxon threatened to score on its next possession after Hicks got loose for gains of 25 and 11 yards, setting up first-and-goal at the 19. Griffin intercepted a pass at the 1-yard line and returned it to the Bradford 26.
The Eagles opened the third quarter by putting themselves in another goal-to-go opportunity. Hicks gained 27 yards on four carries, while Holman completed four passes for 25 yards, moving Paxon to the Bradford 19. Two plays later, Hicks had a 13-yard run to the 2. Jamissia Williams pulled Hicks’ flag for a 2-yard loss on the next play before Jada Hankerson came up with an interception in the end zone.
Bradford’s defense came up with another stop the next time the Eagles had the ball. Two runs by Hicks for 13 yards and a personal-foul penalty moved Paxon to the Tornadoes’ 16-yard line, though the Eagles were now without their best player as Hicks was injured on the play that drew the personal foul. Holman threw two straight incompletions before she was picked off by Dariah Gilmore inside the 5-yard line.
The Tornadoes responded with their best drive of the half. A reception by Khamyra Hankerson set up a fourth-and-inches play just shy of midfield, which Griffin converted on a run. A 5-yard run by Griffin and a holding penalty on Paxon moved Bradford to the 20. Griffin then had an 8-yard run before she had a pass intercepted by Jordan Thompson inside the 5-yard line with 3:57 to play.
A 9-yard reception by Zionah Shingles gave Paxon a first down at its own 28. Taniah Warner then got loose for a 13-yard run to the Bradford 39. Three plays later, Holman hooked up with Thompson for a 37-yard touchdown. Shingles caught Holman’s pass on the successful PAT.
Bradford was able to move into Paxon territory, with Griffin running for an 18-yard gain and Woods catching a pass for a 19-yard gain to the Paxon 29. After a 1-yard Griffin run and an incomplete pass, Griffin ran for a 7-yard gain, which set up fourth-and-1 at the 21 with 8.6 seconds remaining. A pass into the end zone was incomplete, resulting in a turnover on downs and allowing Paxon to take a knee and end the game.
Griffin finished with 81 yards rushing on 17 carries, while completing nine passes for 68 yards.
Woods caught five passes for 46 yards, while Khamyra Hankerson had four catches for 22 yards.
The Tornadoes will graduate only five seniors, so there will be an excitement about next season, especially considering that Brown and Griffin will be back. Griffin passed for approximately 3,500 yards and rushed for more than 1,000, with a total of 60 touchdowns.
Griffin and Brown also are key players defensively, with Griffin leading the team with 23 interceptions and Brown coming up with 11. Brown also had 24 tackles, while Griffin had 15.
Ajiyah Jackson, who led the team with 54 tackles and 35 sacks, will be back as well.
The Tornadoes will also return such players as Khamyra Hankerson (600-plus receiving yards, eight tackles), Jada Hankerson (400-plus receiving yards, 21 tackles, six interceptions), Gilmore (11 tackles, five interceptions), Williams (14 tackles) and Alexis Berry (16 tackles, four interceptions).
“There are a lot of girls coming back,” Staples said. “A lot of playmakers. Two of the best players in the state of Florida (in Brown and Griffin). It’s a good situation.”
