The Scottsdale Firebirds scored twice in the second half Saturday at Tucson High School and held off the Marana Broncos 20-13 to win the AYF Jr. Pee Wee state championship.

The Firebirds will play in the AYF national championships in Florida in two weeks. The berth was not dependent on the outcome of Saturday’s game.

Danil Bridge-Giadd hit Justin Segura with a 24-yard scoring pass in the third quarter to give the Firebirds a 14-6 lead. Brody Azbil scored on an 8-yard run to make it 20-6.

The Firebirds seemed to have the game well in hand when Chris Saurez stripped a Firebird of the ball near midfield and ran it back to the Scottsdale 14. That set up a 1-yard scoring run by Zach Durame, and the Broncos were back in it.

Marana drove for the potential winning score and got it inside the 5 late in the game. Rex Tessler came up with a big stop for Scottsdale.

The Firebirds were able to drive form the shadow of their goal line. Gianni Brackins rushed for a first down to give the Firebirds some breathing room. A few plays later, Bridge-Giadd scrambled to the Broncos 1. The Firebirds ran out the clock.

In the first half, Kenneth Vandell put the Firebirds on the scoreboard with a 6-yard pass from BridgeGiadd to take an 8-0 lead. Vandell made an athletic play, managing to get his feet in before tumbling out of bounds.

On the Firebirds’ next possession, Malique Sharp broke off a 55-yard run. But the drive stalled.

The Broncos drove down the field and made it 8-6 when Manny Moreno scored on a 5-yard run.