BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School’s defense came up with three interceptions and shut out its second straight opponent, defeating second seed Middleburg 7-0 to win its second straight District 4-1A championship on April 10 at BHS.
The top seed Tornadoes got another big game from Ar’Nayshia Griffin, who had two interceptions and accounted for 138 yards of offense, including completing 21 of 36 passes for 98 yards and one touchdown.
In Bradford’s two district tournament games, Griffin accounted for 256 of her team’s 308 total yards.
Bradford (8-1) will host a Region 1 quarterfinal game on Wednesday, April 17.
Middleburg (8-5) ran just two plays before its first interception, made by Griffin off a tipped pass.
A 6-yard run by Griffin would put Bradford at the Middleburg 17 for a goal-to-go opportunity, but the Tornadoes netted only 6 yards before turning the ball over on downs.
Broncos quarterback Rachel Hansen completed an 18-yard pass to Amber Carncross that moved Middleburg past midfield and needing 18 yards to pick up another first down. After an 8-yard reception by Cheyenne Jenkins, the Broncos were held to 5 yards on two consecutive pass plays, courtesy of pulled flags by Bradford’s Alysia Rentz. Middleburg went for it on fourth-and-5, with Tatyana Brown bringing pressure against Hansen, who threw an incompletion.
The Tornadoes moved past midfield for the first time on their first drive of the second quarter. A 5-yard reception by Ajiyah Jackson and a subsequent holding penalty put Bradford at the Middleburg 39. Griffin completed three straight passes after a Nichelle Brown run, but the Tornadoes came up 2 yards shy of a first down and turned the ball over on downs.
Middleburg’s Jenkins had a 20-yard reception on the following series that gave the Broncos first-and-15 at the Bradford 38. Griffin then came up with a near interception before Rentz held the Broncos to a 3-yard gain on a pass play. Brown broke up a pass on third down, forcing Middleburg to punt.
The punt pinned the Tornadoes at their own 2-yard line. After gaining just 3 yards on three plays, Bradford punted. The punt was shanked, giving the Broncos the ball at the Bradford 22 with 1:43 to play in the first half.
Middleburg couldn’t take advantage of its opportunity as Griffin came up with an interception on the Broncos’ first play following the punt.
Bradford’s defense came up big again on Middleburg’s first drive of the second half. The Broncos ran two plays, with the second resulting in a tipped pass that was intercepted by Jackson, giving Bradford the ball at its own 34.
The Tornadoes needed just 6 yards to get a first down. After two incompletions, Griffin hooked up with Talayshia Cummings for a 9-yard gain to the Middleburg 37. Griffin, who finished with 31 yards rushing on eight carries, had runs of 7 and 9 yards to set up fourth-and-1 at the 21. Griffin picked up the first down on a 1-yard run.
Jackson then caught two straight passes for a total of 7 yards. A roughing-the-passer penalty tacked on more yardage after Jackson’s second catch, resulting in first-and-goal at the 7. Cummings had a 4-yard reception before Jackson pulled down a pass for a 3-yard touchdown. The Tornadoes went for one point on the conversion attempt, which was good on a pass from Griffin to Brown, putting the Tornadoes up 7-0 on the final play of the third quarter.
Jackson finished with five catches for 18 yards.
On Middleburg’s second play following the score, Bradford was penalized for a personal foul on a play in which a Broncos player was injured. However, before play resumed, Middleburg coaches earned three unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties, which resulted in the ejection of one coach. Instead of having the ball at their own 28, the Broncos were backed up to the 9-yard line. They punted after three plays.
Bradford was able to move past midfield on its next drive, with an 8-yard reception by Cummings putting the Tornadoes at the Middleburg 33. The Tornadoes were unable to gain another first down, but they succeeded in taking some time off the clock and pinning the Broncos on their own 12-yard line after a punt.
The Broncos picked up one first down at their own 23, but then lost 4 yards when a snap hit the ground. After an incomplete pass, Juliana White had a 14-yard reception to set up a fourth-down play at the Middleburg 37. The Broncos needed just 3 yards for a first down, but attempted a deep pass that was incomplete.
Middleburg got the ball back in the final minute, gaining 10 yards on three plays before the game ended on a fourth-down play on which the snap hit the ground.
Brown led the Bradford receivers with 10 catches for 38 yards and also completed 2 of 2 passes for 9 yards.
Cummings had four receptions for 27 yards, while Jada Hankerson had two for 15 yards.
Griffin caught both of Brown’s pass completions.
