BY CLIFF SMELLEY
It was the Farah and Farah Flag Football Game of the Week and a matchup of unbeatens, but it was all Bradford High School, which recorded its second shutout and its third win of by at least 30 points in defeating visiting Suwannee 34-0 on March 3.
The Tornadoes (4-0), who’ve outscored their opponents 139-18, got more than 200 yards passing, rushing and receiving from Ar’Nayshia Griffin, who threw three touchdown passes to Nichelle Brown and rushed for another score.
On the first possession of the game, Griffin, after completing a 7-yard pass to Kailyn Teal to gain a first down, hooked up with Brown for a 57-yard touchdown. The one-point conversion attempt was good on a reception by Teal, putting Bradford up 7-0.
Suwannee (4-1) went three-and-out on its first series, resulting in the Tornadoes’ offense taking over at the Bulldogs’ 37-yard line after a punt.
The Tornadoes converted on a fourth-and-4 play when Ny’Asia Lopey caught a pass for 17 yards, which put Bradford at the 7-yard line. Griffin eventually scored on a 3-yard run, making it a 13-0 game. The conversion attempt failed.
Besides her play on the offensive end, where she lines up mostly at quarterback, Griffin has proven to be a standout on defense as well. She put an end to the Bulldogs’ second and third drives with interceptions, giving her a total of 11 on the season.
Griffin’s second pick led to an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brown. Brown also caught the pass on the one-point conversion attempt, giving the Tornadoes a 20-0 lead in the second quarter.
After Suwannee turned the ball over on downs on the first series of the second half, Bradford put two quick scores on the board.
A three-play 34-yard drive ended with a 26-yard touchdown pass to Brown, who also had a successful run on the one-point conversion attempt.
The Bulldogs’ third offensive play on the ensuing series resulted in a pick-six by Brown. Griffin’s run on the one-point conversion ended the scoring for the night.
Griffin completed 9 of 23 passes for 171 yards, while rushing for 27 yards on six carries. She also had one reception for 11 yards.
Brown caught five passes for 120 yards and rushed for 29 yards on three carries.
Bradford entered the game off a 36-6 win over visiting Ridgeview on Feb. 27 in which Brown caught five touchdown passes from Griffin.
Brown had a 51-yard touchdown reception on Bradford’s first series, while Griffin returned an interception for a touchdown on Ridgeview’s first drive to put the Tornadoes up 12-0.
Ridgeview punted after three plays on its second drive, which included a 6-yard sack by Bradford’s Izarriya Desue.
A 28-yard touchdown pass from Griffin to Brown on the first play of the second quarter put the Tornadoes up 18-0.
Ridgeview scored on a 57-yard pass play to make the score 18-6. Brown intercepted the Panthers’ pass on the conversion attempt.
The Tornadoes added one more score before halftime, set up by a Griffin interception that put Bradford at the Ridgeview 16-yard line. Brown caught an 11-yard pass and then scored on a 5-yard run, which sent Bradford into the break leading 24-6.
Griffin intercepted a pass on the first series of the second half, with her 16-yard return setting the Bradford offense up at the Ridgeview 27. Griffin had runs of 6 and 3 yards to pick up a first down and then threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brown. Brown caught the pass on the one-point conversion attempt to make the score 31-6.
The Panthers crossed midfield on their next drive, but eventually turned the ball over on downs at the Bradford 27.
Ridgeview’s final series began on Bradford’s side of the field at the 34-yard line. Two tackles by Alysia Rentz helped force the Panthers into a fourth-and-3 play. Rentz then sacked the quarterback for a 2-yard loss.
Brown, who caught a 35-yard touchdown pass for the final score, finished with 11 receptions for 162 yards. She also rushed for 45 yards on seven carries.
Griffin completed 13 of 19 passes for 167 yards, while rushing for 39 yards on nine carries.
Bradford, which is second behind Miami Edison in the Florida High School Athletic Association/MaxPreps Class 1A power rankings, travels to play Florida School for the Deaf and Blind on Wednesday, March 5, at 6 p.m. The Tornadoes then host Ed White on Thursday, March 6, at 6 p.m. before traveling to play Baker County on Monday, March 10, at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 11, Bradford hosts Eagle’s View at 5 p.m.
