Rivalry week has finally arrived and JV Green was ready for pure domination of the Memorial Mustangs!

Stratford received the opening kickoff and started the game off with a literal explosion. Ben Roberts received the kick and absolutely de-cleated the Memorial defender, knocking his helmet 10 yards downfield. After confirming there wasn’t a head still in the helmet, the Stratford offense took the field and began the domination at their own 40. On a 3rd down and 9, Gavin Guzman connected with Daniel Navo for 16 yards and a first down. Another quick completion to TJ Robinson got Stratford to the 25, where Guzman took the ball left and scampered into the end zone for the first TD. Bernardo Sanchez added the extra point and made it 7-0.

On the ensuing kickoff, the speedster Colton Barber made the stop at the Memorial 19 yard line. Griffin Marye made the first down tackle after 3 yards. On second down, Aiden Wheeler laid the lumber and stopped the RB for a 2 yard gain. On third down, Lan’Den Hazely had the first tackle for loss and forced a 4th down punt.

It was back and forth punts the remainder of the first quarter with stout by both sides. At the end of 1, it was 7-0 Stratford.

The second quarter was more of the same with quick 3 and outs. The highlight of the quarter was a monster 65 yard punt by Sanchez that helped keep Memorial on their own end of the field. At halftime, Stratford led 7-0.

To start the second half, Stratford made the gutsy call to open with an onside kick. Just before the kick, the Memorial coach yelled out,  “They’re doing an onside!” Even with warning, the kick was executed to perfection and Stratford recovered the ball at the Memorial 49 yard-line. On first down, Guzman connected with Dylan Faulkner for a 27 yard gain. Next up was Robinson who was absolutely lit up as he made the catch. How he held onto the ball we will have to hear when he wakes up next week. It was an amazing catch by Robinson for a 22 yard gain! The drive ended with a 21 yard field goal by Sanchez, giving Stratford a 10-0 lead.

Sanchez boomed the next kickoff through the end zone, and Memorial started at their own 20. After a big hit by Callan Kirk and a 3rd down stop by Joey Mundwiller, Memorial was again forced to punt. Stratford started the drive at the Memorial 45 yard-line. On a long 3rd and 20, Guzman connected with Roberts down the middle for 22 yards and a first down. Faulkner capped the drive with an 8 yard touchdown run up the middle. The extra point snap was muffed, but Guzman was able to roll left and hit Jayden Matthews for a 2-point conversion and extend the lead to 18-0.

Memorial started their next drive at their own 27. After a big hit on first down by Cade Gronseth, Mundwiller picked off a pass to give the ball back to Stratford. It was a quick possession after a deep ball was intercepted by Memorial. Memorial was able to get their one score of the game on a deep pass and pulled to within 18.

The game wrapped up with one final interception by Reayon Harris that he returned 40 yards to the Memorial 28. Faulkner broke a 28 yard touchdown run to make the final score 32-7.

Stratford JV Green wrapped up the season 7-3 and secured the 2024 District Championship. Congrats to the boys for working so hard all season and leaving it all on the field!