Your Stratford Spartans took on Cypress Ridge Saturday night at Pridgeon Stadium.

The game started with a bang for Stratford. The SHS offense went 40 yards on just the fourth play of the game. Hunter Biehl took a short pass from Aaron DeLeon past a couple would-be tacklers for the first TD of the game.

CRHS’s first offensive possession had some limited success but ultimately failed on a fourth down attempt at mid-field.

After a 40-yard flare pass to Luke Rives to the 20 yard line, DeLeon connected for a 20-yard TD pass on a short post to Jack Stewart.

An impressive 50-yard kickoff return for CRHS put the SHS defense in a tough spot. But a pass deflection from Johnny Crawford and strong defensive-line play forced a quick punt.

The first quarter ended 13-0, SHS.

The next SHS offensive possession led to three points on a 33-yard field goal by Ricky Estrada. The drive was assisted by open-field blocking by Stewart, allowing Braxton Wakefield to take a reverse for 20 yards.

The CRHS offense changed it up on their next possession with the triple-option offense. They had their first real success of the game,  using up significant game clock and leading to their first score making it 16-7, SHS.

A tackle for a big loss put SHS’s offense in a tough spot facing a 3rd and 20 on their next offensive possession. However, a 25-yard scramble by DeLeon and a 20-yard TD pass to Rives turned the series around.

The triple option wasn’t as successful on CRHS’s next possession, as they were forced into a three and out.

With 2:38 left in the half and two timeouts remaining, the SHS offense started on their own five-yard line. Not a single time out was needed, as Wakefield received a TD pass from 32 yards just before half making it 31-7.

With 1:14 left in the half, CRHS attempted to put a scoring drive together. It started off rough for CRHS as Tiergan Burl made a great play with a pass deflection. Burl set the defensive tone as a few plays later, Crawford ended the drive with an interception.

The SHS defense started the second half just like the first. A quick punt was forced on CRHS’s first offensive possession.

Stewart led the charge on the next offensive drive with several receptions. The TD drive was capped off by a 20-yard reception to Rives, making it 39-3.

Another quick punt was forced by the SHS defense supported by a big hit by Bo Harrison to break up a pass.

Quickly, on SHS’s next offensive possession, a 35-yard run from Biehl on a pitch play put the Spartans up 46-7.

The fourth quarter was all about ball control and stingy defense for SHS.

Your Spartans won with a final of 53-7.

Next up, your Spartans play Memorial on Friday, 10/27, at Tully Stadium.