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Freshman White Football Loses to Tomball in Make-Up Game

By John Cook, 09/18/23, 9:45PM CDT

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The Stratford Freshman White Football Team hosted Tomball for the second time this season as the first game was originally cancelled due to inclement weather.

Tomball started fast as they opened the game with an 80-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game, going up 7-0. The Spartans then took possession after a long kickoff, but after a couple of run attempts by QB Andy Navarro (#3) and RB John Hearne (#15), the initial drive stalled. A short punt set up Tomball at the Stratford 41. The defense stepped up when Joshua Siems (#44) had a nice tackle for short yardage, and a sack by Nick Riopelle (#49) held Tomball to a 36-yard field goal. The Spartan offense was forced to punt again on their next possession, setting up Tomball with good field position. From the 19 yard line, the Tomball QB found a receiver in the corner of the end zone for another touchdown. At the end of the first quarter, Tomball led 17-0.

The Spartans took the ball to start the second quarter. After a QB keeper by Navarro (#3) and a flare pass in the flats to Riopelle (#49) fell incomplete, the Spartans set up to punt again. From punt formation, a high snap over the punter led to a safety, providing Tomball a 19-0 lead. Tomball on their next possession marched down the field again for another touchdown despite some great tackles from Gavin Webb (#45) and Jamison Cook (#38) along the way. At halftime, Tomball led 26-0.

In a recurring theme, Stratford used halftime to regroup and play much stronger in the second half, holding Tomball to only three points. Jamiel Wright (#83) fielded the second half kickoff and had a nice run out to the 25 yard line. From there, Navarro (#3) hooked up with Teagan Tedrow (#20) for a nice pass. This allowed the offense to convert the first down on a QB keeper by Navarro (#3). Another nice pass to Ryder Jones (#48) and a couple of runs by Navarro (#3) had the makings of a nice drive, but Tomball eventually forced a punt.

Defense got things going with a nice pass deflection by Cook (#38), followed by a great tackle when Nathan Bell (#4) thwarted a WR screen. On the next play, Siems (#44) tackled the RB for no gain. Caden Couch (#31) and Bell (#4) teamed up for a tackle for a loss on the Tomball QB. At the end of the third period, the defense held the score at 26-0.

The defensive plays continued into the fourth quarter when Luke Schifano (#18) secured an interception in the end zone. The Spartans' offense was unable to maintain momentum when a long pass on third down by QB Amoree Johnson (#28) fell incomplete. Mohammad Diaa (#64) stepped up and made a couple of nice tackles on Tomball's last possession of the game that resulted in a 43-yard field goal.

Tomball's strong kicking game and balanced attack were too much to overcome as the Freshman White Team (2-1) experienced the first loss of the season in a final score of 29-0.