In a Halloween matchup against the Cy Ridge Rams, your Stratford Spartans would trick-or-treat in Rams territory all night and take home the candy bucket for good measure. The Rams’ strategy for the night was to grind the clock out and limit the Spartans' offensive possessions. Stratford obliged with a dominating ground game of its own, amassing 278 yards and four touchdowns. The defense played bend-don’t-break style, forcing five turnovers on the night.

The game began with both teams exchanging punts before Aaron DeLeon put the Spartans on the board with a 52-yard touchdown run. Stratford forced back-to-back turnovers with an interception by Parker Johnson and a forced fumble by Samual Ezezue that was scooped up by Blake Barry. With Stratford knocking on the door, the Rams would get an interception on a deflection that ended the drive near the goal line. On the next play from scrimmage, Johnathon Joseph, Jr. made a great read on a wide receiver screen and intercepted the ball, returning it three yards for a Spartan touchdown. The Rams would once again focus on controlling the time of possession with the running game, but an errant decision to put the ball in the air would prove costly as Peter Vescovo would join the turnover festivities with an interception of his own. Five plays later, Javi Denson would take a lateral pass 31 yards to pay dirt, making the score 21-0.

In the first half, the teams combined for twelve total possessions. In the second half, the teams would combine for only seven total possessions as both teams continued to chew the clock with the ground game. The Rams took their opening possession of the second half marching 66 yards on 15 plays to the Spartans’ 4 yard line. The Spartans bowed up and stopped the Rams on 4th and goal to end the threat that took nearly the entire third quarter. Using the wildcat formation, Stratford would push the ball to midfield on three runs for 51 yards by Denson. Denson carried most of the load on the 13-play drive and punched it in from 4 yards out to put the Spartans ahead 28-0 early in the fourth quarter. Cy Ridge responded with a 13-play scoring drive of their own to finally get on the board, making the score 28-7. Stratford’s next possession was one of the typical variety for this team. After a 17-yard reception by Cody Hanlen, DeLeon would toss one out to Joseph Jr. on a screen play that he would glide 28-yards for the score. The Rams' next possession ended quickly with another interception by Johnson, marking his 10th of the season and keeping him at the top of leaderboard. Stratford would make quick work of the next possession, scoring on a Davis Kendall 48-yard run up the left side to make the score 42-7. The Rams moved the ball 57 yards before stalling out and kicking a 31-yard field goal with seconds left on the clock. With the score 42-10, Stratford put an end to a two-game skid.

Offensive statistical highlights: DeLeon 151 yards passing with a touchdown and 97 yards on the ground with a touchdown; Denson 129 yards and two touchdowns on the ground along with three receptions for 28 yards; Kendall 50 yards and a touchdown; Hanlen two receptions for 63 yards; and Joseph Jr. for 28 yards receiving and a touchdown.

Defensive statistical highlights: Johnson eleven tackles and two interceptions; Joseph Jr. interception return for a touchdown; Vescovo eight tackles and an interception; Ezezue five tackles and a forced fumble; Barry six tackles, one tackle for loss, and a fumble recovery; Tiergan Burl ten tackles.

With the victory, Stratford improves to 6-3 overall and 4-2 in District play. Stratford has secured a playoff spot and faces Memorial this week to determine seeding. There is no better opportunity to get into the playoff mode than to face Memorial with playoff seeding on the line!

This Week: Beat Memorial on Friday at 7 pm at Tully. Stratford is the home team this year.

Be Early! Be Loud! Go Spartans!

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