Scoop27
09-27-2014, 11:30 AM
By KEITH MAGEE kmagee@journal-spectator.com | 0 comments
STAFFORD - The Stafford Spartans scored eight unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a key safety that led to the final touchdown as they knocked off the Wharton Tigers, 28-21, in a non-district game Friday night in Stafford.
The win keeps the Spartans undefeated for the season with a 4-0 record, while the Tigers fall to 3-2.
Wharton scored the first touchdown in the game on a pass by quarterback Joseph Krenek, who missed last week’s game against El Campo because of an injury.
Krenek threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Branch with 1:24 left in the first quarter. The kick failed, but Wharton had a 6-0 lead.
In the second period, Stafford answered with a 27-yard touchdown strike from Curtis Robinson to Daniel Ponce. Gabriel Sanchez added the extra point to give the Spartans a 7-6 lead with 7:04 left in the first half.
The Tigers responded with a time-consuming drive. It was capped by a 1-yard keeper by Krenek with 1:05 left in the second period.
Krenek threw a pass to Dontay Bell for the two-point conversion, and Wharton was back on top, 14-7.
The Spartans, however, had time to drive down the field. Although they didn’t get a touchdown, Sanchez connected on a 40-yard field goal as time expired to cut Wharton’s lead to 14-10 at the half.
The Tigers got the ball to start the second half but couldn’t capitalize.
Stafford’s Sanchez connected on another field goal, this time from 31 yards out, and the Spartans made it a one-point game, trailing Wharton 14-13 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
The Spartans took the lead on a 41-yard touchdown run by Brian Imarenozor. Sanchez added the PAT, and Stafford had a 20-14 lead with 4:43 to go in the third period.
Later in the quarter, the Tigers regained the lead on an 18-yard pass from Krenek to Benjamin Baylor Jr. Guyver Cano added the PAT, and Wharton had a one-point lead, 21, 20, with 3:37 left in the third quarter.
The two defenses slugged it out until the 4:45 mark in the fourth quarter, when Wharton was trapped in the end zone for a safety, giving the Spartans a one-point advantage, 22-21.
After the free kick, the Spartans drove and scored on a 15-yard run by Imarenozor with 1:15 left in the game. The kick was blocked, but Stafford had a 28-21 lead.
The Tigers tried to move the ball down the field for one last touchdown but ran out of time.
Imarenozor led the Spartans with 170 yards on 29 carries.
For Wharton, Baylor had 69 yards rushing on nine carries.
Krenek completed 10 of 21 passes for 150 yards with one interception.
Branch had four receptions for 86 yards, while Chris Green had three catches for 21 yards and Dontay Bell two catches for 25 yards.
The Tigers hit the road again next week for another non-district game, playing at Lamar Consolidated at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.
STAFFORD - The Stafford Spartans scored eight unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including a key safety that led to the final touchdown as they knocked off the Wharton Tigers, 28-21, in a non-district game Friday night in Stafford.
The win keeps the Spartans undefeated for the season with a 4-0 record, while the Tigers fall to 3-2.
Wharton scored the first touchdown in the game on a pass by quarterback Joseph Krenek, who missed last week’s game against El Campo because of an injury.
Krenek threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ashton Branch with 1:24 left in the first quarter. The kick failed, but Wharton had a 6-0 lead.
In the second period, Stafford answered with a 27-yard touchdown strike from Curtis Robinson to Daniel Ponce. Gabriel Sanchez added the extra point to give the Spartans a 7-6 lead with 7:04 left in the first half.
The Tigers responded with a time-consuming drive. It was capped by a 1-yard keeper by Krenek with 1:05 left in the second period.
Krenek threw a pass to Dontay Bell for the two-point conversion, and Wharton was back on top, 14-7.
The Spartans, however, had time to drive down the field. Although they didn’t get a touchdown, Sanchez connected on a 40-yard field goal as time expired to cut Wharton’s lead to 14-10 at the half.
The Tigers got the ball to start the second half but couldn’t capitalize.
Stafford’s Sanchez connected on another field goal, this time from 31 yards out, and the Spartans made it a one-point game, trailing Wharton 14-13 with 7:53 left in the third quarter.
The Spartans took the lead on a 41-yard touchdown run by Brian Imarenozor. Sanchez added the PAT, and Stafford had a 20-14 lead with 4:43 to go in the third period.
Later in the quarter, the Tigers regained the lead on an 18-yard pass from Krenek to Benjamin Baylor Jr. Guyver Cano added the PAT, and Wharton had a one-point lead, 21, 20, with 3:37 left in the third quarter.
The two defenses slugged it out until the 4:45 mark in the fourth quarter, when Wharton was trapped in the end zone for a safety, giving the Spartans a one-point advantage, 22-21.
After the free kick, the Spartans drove and scored on a 15-yard run by Imarenozor with 1:15 left in the game. The kick was blocked, but Stafford had a 28-21 lead.
The Tigers tried to move the ball down the field for one last touchdown but ran out of time.
Imarenozor led the Spartans with 170 yards on 29 carries.
For Wharton, Baylor had 69 yards rushing on nine carries.
Krenek completed 10 of 21 passes for 150 yards with one interception.
Branch had four receptions for 86 yards, while Chris Green had three catches for 21 yards and Dontay Bell two catches for 25 yards.
The Tigers hit the road again next week for another non-district game, playing at Lamar Consolidated at 7:30 p.m. next Friday.