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DEFENSE, MACFARLANE LEAD BRADFORD TO STUNNING VICTORY OVER PERRY AND INTO PIAA CLASS AAA SEMIFINALS |
| PIAA CLASS AAA SECOND ROUND GAME AT WARREN HIGH SCHOOL |
| NOV. 21, 2003 - Bradford 13, Perry 7 |
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Information for this story gathered from various sources including e-mails we have received, the Bradford Era, the DuBois Courier Express, the Pittsburgh Tribune Review and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. WARREN – Do you believe in miracles? In Bradford they are starting to thanks to the high school football teams unlikely 13-7 win over tradition state powerhouse Perry in the PIAA Class AAA Quarterfinals Friday night in Warren. With the win, the Owls are just one game removed from playing for the state championship. "It’s as far as we’ve ever gotten," Bradford head coach Steve Ackerman told the Bradford Era’s Greg Clark. "We’re in the final four of the state. I don’t know where it ranks in Bradford history, because I’ve only been here nine years. But it is awfully big in my book." It is awfully big in the book of any team in District 9 other than maybe Smethport. With the win Bradford became just the second District 9 school in any classification in the history of the state playoffs (which began in 1987) to win at least two state football playoff games. Smethport has turned the trick four times (1991, 1992, 1995 and 1998). The Owls are also just the third team from District 9 to qualify for the PIAA semifinals joining Smethport (in the above years) and Keystone in 1989. Smethport’s 1992 team and Keystone’s 1989 team are the only District 9 teams to reach the state title game. The Owls will play the winner of Saturday’s WPIAL championship game between Pine-Richland and Thomas Jefferson. Bradford reached the semifinals thanks to the leg of junior kicker Kyle Macfarlane and a tough-nosed defense that limited Perry to just 182 yards of total offense on the night while forcing three turnovers. "How about the performance by our defense," Ackerman told Clark. "What a game they played. That was unbelievable." Macfarlane was also pretty good booting field goals of 30 and 37 points as well as an extra point to provide the margin of victory for the Owls (10-2). Bradford’s offense was pretty much held in check by Perry, as the Commodores allowed just 113 yards, all on the ground, to the Owls. Sean Hvizdzak led the rushing attack with 16 carries for 45 yards but failed to score a touchdown for the first time in the postseason. Aaron O’Toole added 12 carries for 28 yards, and Mike Austin had eight for 23 yards. Bradford jumped to a 7-0 lead just 3:14 into the game thanks in large part to its defense. On Perry’s first possession, Brian Wallace picked off a Desmond Brentley pass at the Perry 33-yard line and returned it to the Commodore 15-yard line. Brentley started the game in place of three-year starter Scott Knapp, who injured his ankle late in Perry’s first-round win over Erie Strong Vincent. Knapp did return to play in the second half. Bradford needed five plays to cover the 15 yards with Dave Snyder getting the final yard and the touchdown with 8:46 left in the first quarter. "The first turnover was the key to the game," Ackerman told Clark. "We took it down in five plays and got off to the starter we needed. That gave us some confidence." Perry (11-2) tied the game midway through the second quarter when Brentley hit Gary Lee with a 22-yard screen pass for a touchdown tying the game at 7-7 with 6:38 left in the first half. Late in the half, the Owls took over at their own 47-yard line following a punt and used a 24-yard run by Austin to move to the 13-yard line with three seconds left in the half. Macfarlane then hit his 30-yard field goal giving Bradford a 10-7 halftime lead. "That field goal was big," Ackerman told Clark. "Our field goal team came through tonight." Bradford’s defense set up the only points of the second half when Jake Wells intercepted a Knapp pass at the Perry 25-yard line and returned it to the Commodores 14-yard line. The Owls offense stalled and actually lost six yards, but Macfarlane hit a 37-yard field goal to give Bradford a 13-7 lead with 3:26 left in the third quarter. Late in the game Perry had one more chance to tie or win the game taking over at its own 45-yard line with 1:34 left to play and no timeouts remaining. Knapp was able to get the Commodores to the Bradford 32-yard line, but the Owls broke up a fourth-down pass intended for Paul Favers with 56 seconds left to secure the win. "It wasn’t pretty offensively, but we did what we had to do," Ackerman told Clark. "We can play with these teams. The kids just have to believe in themselves. They deserve to be where they are at." Brentley was held to 4-for-11 passing for 77 yards by the Owls defense, and Knapp was even less effective going 3-for-15 for 37 yards. The Commodore rush offense also was stagnant gaining only 68 yards on 26 carries. GAME NOTES – Perry was 12-6 overall in the PIAA Playoffs since 1997 and 4-1 in quarterfinal games entering the night … The Owls win was revenge of sorts, as the Commodores ended Bradford’s season two years ago in the quarterfinals. BRADFORD 13, PERRY 7 Score by Quarters |