Your Stratford Spartans Varsity Team opened District play against the Cy Fair Bobcats at Pridgeon Stadium.

The game began with solid defense by both teams, which included a quarterback sack on the first play by Cooper Kemp. However, SHS’s offense started clicking with a 20-yard touchdown on a designed quarterback run play by Aaron Deleon. The touchdown was aided by some big receptions by Jack Stewart and Braxton Wakefield.

SHS special teams started contributing on the subsequent kickoff when CFHS attempted a reverse on the return. Bo Harrison was not fooled and tackled the attempted ball carrier back on the 18 yard line.

CFHS evened it up with their air game knocking out about 10 to 15 yards per play to eventually score tying it, 7 to 7.

SHS won the 1st quarter turnover battle 2-1 with two interceptions, one by Parker Johnson saving a TD pass attempt and another by Bo Harrison off a tipped ball.

The highlight of the 1st quarter was the quarterback protection by the offensive line - Leo Herrera, Clayton Nonoff, Zachary Prudhomme, Armando Castro, and Foard Polley. SHS QB was free of hardly any pressure during the quarter.

SHS offense got close to taking the lead with some impressive pass plays to Wakefield and Derrick McGee, but an interception in the end zone ended the drive.

SHS defense made CFHS work on their next drive with some tough play including a big play on a run-dropping hit by Tiergan Burl. However, after 15 plays, CFHS took the lead, 14-7.

SHS tried to respond on offense with an impressive start, which included a drive-helping connection with Anderson Dinh. However, the turnovers continued with a fumble giving the ball back to CFHS at midfield with 1:20 left in the half.

CFHS took advantage of the short field and scored with eight seconds left in the half, making it 21-7.

Down 21-7, SHS went with a surprise on-side kick to begin the second half. Dinh recovered the near-perfect kick by Jake Weinhardt. Unfortunately, turnovers were still plaguing SHS as a tipped ball interception was returned deep into SHS territory. This gave CFHS an extremely short field allowing them to score and add to their lead, 28-7.

SHS’s next offensive possession was like a different team as they focused on attacking on the ground. Herrera, Nonoff, Prudhomme, Castro, and Polley led the way with several successful run plays,  including a parting-of-the sea, 30-yard run by McGee. The successful drive was capped off by a beautiful 35-yard TD connection between DeLeon and Luke Rives.

With CFHS’s lead cut in half, 28-14, SHS defense put on a display. Blake Barry was done being silenced by dropping two crowd-pumping plays in a row giving CFHS a near-impossible 3rd and 25. CFHS had to punt.

SHS offense showed some promise on the comeback on the next drive but turned it over on downs after failing to convert on a 4th-down deep in CFHS territory.

CFHS pushed the lead to 35-14 with 11 minutes left in the game on a steady and consistent offensive drive.

There was some back-and-forth to end the game but eventually the Spartans came up short losing 42-21.

Next up for your Spartan Football team is Cypress Creek on Saturday, September 30 at Tully Stadium.