BRADFORD – After a thrilling 37-30 double-overtime win in the D9 Class AAA title game, things don’t get any easier for Bradford in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAA playoffs.

The Owls (8-2) reward for winning District 9 is a date with three-time defending District 4 champion Selinsgrove (12-0), the No. 2 ranked team in the state in Class AAA according to the PA Football News. The game is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Shamokin High School.

The Seals have been great on both sides of the ball this year and are ranked 10^th in the state in scoring (37.67 points per game) and third in defense (5.08 points per game allowed).

They have not been held under 20 points at all this season and have been held in the 20’s just twice. Meanwhile, the Seals defense has shutout five opponents this year while allowing double digits just twice.

Selinsgrove is coming off a 56-6 thrashing of Milton in the D4 title game and have won its last two games by a combined score of 98-6.

This is Bradford’s first trip to the state playoffs since they made a run into the semifinals in 2003.

That year, Bradford beat Huntingdon 25-10 in the first round and Perry 13-7 in the semifinals before losing to Pine-Richland 37-7 in the semifinals.

Selinsgrove’s defense could be tested by a Bradford offense that ranks 20^th in Pennsylvania in scoring at 35.9 points per game.

As usual, the Owls offense is run-oriented with 85.6 percent of their total yardage coming on the ground.

Bradford has rushed for 2,877 yards and 40 touchdowns this season while averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

The Owls ground game is led by a trio of backs who are all over 500 yards including 1,000-yard rusher Taylor O’Brien.

O’Brien leads the team with 1,037 yards and 18 touchdowns on 123 carries.

EJ Moore is adding 94 totes for 874 yards and nine touchdowns, while Nick Johnson has 63 carries for 563 yards and eight scores.

Moore (5 catches, 92 yards, 2 TDs) and Johnson (5 grabs, 55 yards, 3 TDS) also have shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. In fact, Moore caught the game-winning 23-yard touchdown pass in the second overtime vs. Clearfield.

Ben Walter has proven to be a solid quarterback for Bradford completing 45.7 percent (32 of 70) of his passes for 482 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Walter has also run 40 times for 146 yards and three scores.

Tommy Morris is the top receiver for the Owls with 16 catches for 234 yards and two touchdowns.

Selinsgrove offense could pose problems for a Bradford defense that is allowing 18.8 points per game.

That defense is led by Rob Pire (67 tackles, 6 sacks), Taylor O’Brien (64 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 interception), Cody Gooding (57 tackles, 4 sacks), Britt Bookhamer (56 tackles, 8 sacks), Jim Milbrandt (55 tackles) and Steven Reinhardt (50 tackles, 4 sacks). Johnson (45 tackles, 3 sacks) and Moore (44 tackles, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions) as well as Alex Faucher (44 tackles, 2 sacks) are also key members of the defensive unit.

Senior kicker Steve Butler is another key player for Bradford.

Butler is 4-for-8 on field goals this season including hitting a game tying one in the first overtime vs. Clearfield. In addition to that, he is 40 of 44 on extra points and also has 10 touchbacks on kickoff this year while averaging 35.0 yards per punt.

Selinsgrove also likes to run the ball. Over 71 percent of the Seals offense has come on the ground. They have run for 2,732 yards and 40 touchdowns this season while throwing for 1,449 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The running attack is paced by backs Matt Cook and Tony Troutman and quarterback Eric Deckard.

Cook is the leading rusher for the Seals with 163 carries for 1,138 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Troutman is adding 899 yards and 16 scores on 137 carries, while Deckard has 409 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on 64 carries.

Deckard is also completing 51.8 percent of his passes (87 of 168) for 1,362 yards , nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.

Deckard’s favorite targets are Mike Ritter (28 catches, 444 yards, 2 TDs), Bryce Auker (22 catches, 352 yards, 3 TDs) and Braden Klingler (19 catches, 302 yards, 3 TDs).

Nate Gingrich is the leading defensive player for Selinsgrove with 92 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

Jason Lauver is adding 73 tackles, while Auker has 64 tackles and two sacks. Cook is adding 57 stops, four sacks and three interceptions, while Justin Stover has 56 tackles. Klingler has added four picks for the Seals.