It was a great evening to be a Stratford Spartan this past Wednesday. In preparation for Halloween, the boys played the part of a Nick Saban Alabama team and dominated all three phases of the game.

The game started with a Bernardo Sanchez bomb out of the back of the end zone for a touchback. The defense took the field, and Thomas Turner started the game with a three-yard tackle for loss. Eric Michaud and Joey Mundwiller followed up with their own big stops and forced the first punt of many for Cy Ridge. The snap flew over the punter's head and Stratford recovered on the 35 yard line. It didn't take long for Gavin Guzman to connect with Jayden Matthews for a 35 yard touchdown.

The following kickoff was again through the end zone for a touchback. A quick three-and-out for the defense forced another punt, and Stratford started in Cy Ridge territory at the 48. Stratford scored on a 12 yard run from Guzman and tacked on the extra point by Sanchez, making it 13-0.

Sanchez decided to let the kick coverage team have some fun on the next kickoff and dropped the ball to Cy Ridge at the 2 yard line. The returner made it to the 15, where Colton Barber knocked him back into 7th grade. The defense again stood strong and forced the third punt of the evening for Cy Ridge. This time, Barber came off the right side and was able to recover a muffed snap in the end zone for a Stratford touchdown. Another Sanchez extra point was successful, and Stratford took a 20-0 lead.

Cy Ridge started their next possession at their own 9 yard line thanks to a Jack Sullivan tackle on kickoff. Callan Kirk started the series off with a tackle for loss. Barber and Wyatt Koy then made 2nd and 3rd down stops. On 4th and long, Cy Ridge decided to roll the dice and go for it, but Griffin Marye said, "No sir!" and stopped them short for a turnover on downs. The O took back over on the Stratford 15 yard line and drove the length of the field thanks to runs from Dylan Faulkner and Guzman. Time ran out before any points were scored,  and at the half Stratford led 20-0.

The second half started with back-and-forth three-and-outs by both teams. At mid third quarter, after tackles from Aiden Wheeler and Lucas Thibodeaux, Wheeler then rushed and tackled the punter on fourth down. Stratford started deep in Cy Ridge territory at the 25. This was Faulkner's drive as he rushed for 10, 13, and finally 3 yards for a touchdown. After a Guzman-to-Matthews two- point conversion, Stratford took the lead 28-0.

On the next drive, the defense again stood strong and ended the possession with an interception by Derrick Calhoun at the Cy Ridge 40 yard line. Faulkner started the drive with an 8 yard run and tacked on 15 more with a face mask. The drive stalled at the 25 yard line,  where Sanchez pulled out the bazooka leg and nailed a 42 yard field goal (that would have been good from over 50!). 31-0.

Cy Ridge took the ball over at their own 25. After a big hit by Barber, Lan'den Hazley stripped the ball and took it back over for Stratford at the 35 yard line. The offense looked like it may finally be stopped, but on 4th and 1, Guzman found Matthews in the end zone for a 26 yard toe-tapping touchdown. Stratford went up 38-0, and that's where the score would stay.

Domination was the theme of the night for the Spartans. The wheels are greased, and the team is dialed in for next week's rivalry matchup against Memorial. Come out this Thursday to support the boys in green as they close out the 2024 season with one last win!