With the JV cheerleaders firing up the crowd, the Spartans’ JV Combined team won a wild back-and forth-game vs. Cy Creek, posting a thrilling 42-40 win at Stratford HS.

After SHS punted on its first possession, CC drove down the field, only to be stymied by a tackle for loss by Sean Dessens and a bad pass forced by Jake Hetman, who lived in the CC backfield tonight. CC settled for a field goal, but an SHS penalty provided new life, and they scored a TD. The XP was missed and CC led 6-0.

After a fair catch on the next kickoff, Jackson Miller found Braxton Wakefield over the middle for a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown. Wakefield hauled in the pass 20 yards down the field, then sprinted through tacklers for the remaining 55 yards. XP was good for a 7-6 SHS lead. CC ran a few plays on its next drive, but on 3rd & 7 Cade Hanlen forced a fumble and the SHS offense was back in business. After a 7-yard run by Miller, Jack Stewart left CC defenders in his dust for a 60 yard score. Wakefield’s XP made it 14-6 SHS.

CC came right back and scored, but on a night when each point proved critical, Hetman again forced his way inside and broke up the two-point conversion pass, protecting a 14-12 SHS lead.

The next SHS drive was quick, but balanced. The HOGS on the O-line (Michael Mouton, Matthew Seiler, Zach Prudhomme, Michael Zatopek, and Luke Richardson) opened holes for Stewart runs of 6 and 12 yards, then provided great pass protection for Miller to hit Wakefield on a perfect 65-yard TD connection. SHS extended its lead to 21-12.

Defensive highlights in the second quarter included solid pass coverage by Chris Dozier and Hanlen, and good line pushes by Zaid Dheyaa and Hetman, and timely tackling by Aidan Gelber and Kenneth Neal. Closing out the half, Derrick McGee had two tough runs, and it was Miller to Wakefield across the middle for another TD, giving SHS a halftime lead of 28-19.

SHS defense forced CC to punt to start the 3rd quarter. Back on offense, McGee made a nice cut on a 15 yard run and added a 7 yard gain, then Miller called an audible and hit Bobby Harrison in stride down the left sideline for a 76 yard touchdown. SHS was leading 35-19, and it finally felt like a safer lead. However, CC would answer to make it 35-26, then the push to the finish was on.

CC crept closer with a TD making it 35-33. After the ensuing kickoff, SHS took just two plays to score again. Wakefield, in at QB, scampered for 60 yards, sprung by a fantastic McGee block. On the next play, SHS completed the quick drive when McGee ran up the middle for a 17-yard TD. Prudhomme’s snap, Miller’s hold, and Wakefield’s XP kick made it 42-33 SHS.

CC responded with a TD to cut the lead to 42-40, despite Aden Mancuso stuffing a screen pass and Dessens breaking through for a tackle for loss. This was getting tight. CC tried an onside kick, and crazy bounces put about 10 players in range of getting it, but Rechard Pride fought for it and recovered it. Emergency averted. Then after an SHS punt with 3:20 remaining, and CC driving, Kenneth Neal came up with the game saving interception, sending the team and fans into a frenzy. A Stewart run for a first down and a few kneel-downs later, the Spartans win it 42-40. What a game!

Nice win Spartans! We’ll see you next week at Jersey Village.