Ar’Nayshia Griffin threw three touchdown passes, rushed for one score and also had two interception returns for touchdowns in Bradford High School’s 53-0 win over visiting Newberry in a District 4-1A flag football tournament semifinal game on April 15.
The number-one seed Tornadoes (11-2), who also got two punt returns for touchdowns from Nichelle Brown, will host second seed Santa Fe (10-1) for the championship on Thursday, April 17, at 6 p.m.
Bradford’s first score against fourth seed Newberry (5-5) was a 46-yard pass play from Griffin to Rhianna Davis. Brown’s reception on the conversion attempt made it 7-0.
Griffin threw a 15-yard pass to Brown on the Tornadoes’ next series, which set up a third-and-1 on the Newberry 21. Griffin kept the ball and picked up the first down and more, running her way into the end zone. She again connected with Brown on the conversion attempt, putting Bradford up 14-0 as time expired in the first quarter.
Bradford’s first series of the second quarter began at the Newberry 28. Griffin completed a 6-yard pass to Brown before then finding Cherish Bing all alone for a 22-yard touchdown, making the score 20-0.
The Panthers gained just 4 yards on their first three plays following the score, but elected to go for it on fourth since they needed just 2 yards. The play, however, resulted in Griffin’s first pick-six, which covered approximately 20 yards and put the Tornadoes ahead 26-0.
Griffin wasted little time making her second interception, which occurred on Newberry’s second play of the ensuing series. This return covered approximately 30 yards and put Bradford up 33-0 after Kaylee Devore’s reception on the conversion attempt.
Bradford’s offense got back into the scoring act in the third quarter. With a Brown punt return setting the Tornadoes up at the Newberry 12, Griffin completed a 6-yard pass to Brown before then hooking up with Bing for a 6-yard touchdown. Brown’s reception on the conversion attempt made it a 40-0 game.
Brown capped the scoring with two consecutive punt returns for scores. The first covered approximately 35 yards, while the second went for approximately 45 yards. The Tornadoes had a successful conversion attempt following Brown’s second touchdown, with Bing catching a pass from Griffin.
Griffin finished with more than 130 yards passing, while Bing and Davis each had more than 40 yards in receptions.
