SPRINGDALE -- It took a series, but Tanner Griffin found his groove and provided Bixby, Okla., with the offense he had shown all weekend.
Touchdowns on back-to-back possessions lifted the Spartans to a 20-12 win over Aurora (Ill.) Christian on Saturday, completing a 13-0 showing at the annual Southwest Elite 7-on-7 Showcase at Shiloh Christian's Champions Stadium.
Bixby is just the third out-of-state school to win the event in its eight-year history. Olive Branch, Miss., won in 2010 and 2013.
"When you go to a 7-on-7, you never know what to expect," Bixby coach Loren Montgomery said. "But we're sure glad we (went undefeated)."
While Griffin, an Oklahoma State commit, worked to overcome his early struggles, the Spartans' defense carried the team. Aurora Christian went three-and-out on its first two possessions and didn't find the end zone until its fourth and final possession.
The Eagles' quarterback, Drew Clippert, completed only half of his 14 passes in the championship game.
"We all did good," Griffin said. "Our defense stepped up big time there in the last game."
It was Griffin, though, who shined earlier in the tournament.
In the semifinals against Shiloh Christian, he completed 12 of 15 passes for four touchdowns. The Spartans' only possession that didn't end with a score was its final one, when time expired, and they won, 28-19.
"He was amazing," Montgomery said. "He did really well and showed that he's going to be a three-year starter. He's an excpetional football player for us."
Shiloh Christian was the only Arkansas school to reach the semifinals and nearly forced a third game with Bixby, which also beat the Saints in pool play Friday.
The Saints scored a touchdown as time expired in their elimination game against Aurora Christian. Instead of attempting their point-after play from the 5-yard line for one point and the tie, they went from the 10-yard line for two points and the win. But rising senior quarterback Connor Reece's pass fell incomplete.
Overall, it was a rough day for teams from Northwest Arkansas. Alma won its first three games before being eliminated with consecutive losses to Shiloh Christian and Aurora Christian.
Bentonville High also won three games in tournament play, while Springdale High and Fort Smith Northside won two, and Bentonville West won one. Elkins, Rogers High and Rogers Heritage each went winless.
Sports on 07/17/2016