3afan
12-17-2005, 09:13 PM
Stratford claims Class A crown, 21-20
05:11 PM CST on Saturday, December 17, 2005
By AL PICKETT / Special to The Dallas Morning News
ABILENE -- Stratford is the Class A state football champion, rallying for a 21-20 victory Saturday over Big Sandy at Shotwell Stadium.
Hunter Buckles 10-yard touchdown pass to Case Crabtree tied the game and Jonathan Licon's extra-point kick sealed a second state championship for the school. Stratford (15-1) also won a state title in 2000.
Big Sandy, which trailed 14-8 at the half, tied the game early in the third quarter on quarterback Deroderick Strickland's 42-yard run. They went in front, 20-14, on Brandon McCleveland's 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Strickland attempted a two-point conversion, but was stopped short.
Jeffrey Frizzell returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to the Big Sandy 24 to set up Stratford's game-winning touchdown.
Big Sandy, which finished the season with a 14-2 record, took the early 8-0 lead on a 96-yard pass from Strickland to Zach Massingill and Massingill's two-point conversion run on a fake kick.
Stratford, however, scored on Buckles' 6-yard run late in the first quarter and went in front 14-8 on Brady Bell's 10-yard run with 7:23 to go in the second quarter.
05:11 PM CST on Saturday, December 17, 2005
By AL PICKETT / Special to The Dallas Morning News
ABILENE -- Stratford is the Class A state football champion, rallying for a 21-20 victory Saturday over Big Sandy at Shotwell Stadium.
Hunter Buckles 10-yard touchdown pass to Case Crabtree tied the game and Jonathan Licon's extra-point kick sealed a second state championship for the school. Stratford (15-1) also won a state title in 2000.
Big Sandy, which trailed 14-8 at the half, tied the game early in the third quarter on quarterback Deroderick Strickland's 42-yard run. They went in front, 20-14, on Brandon McCleveland's 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Strickland attempted a two-point conversion, but was stopped short.
Jeffrey Frizzell returned the ensuing kickoff 59 yards to the Big Sandy 24 to set up Stratford's game-winning touchdown.
Big Sandy, which finished the season with a 14-2 record, took the early 8-0 lead on a 96-yard pass from Strickland to Zach Massingill and Massingill's two-point conversion run on a fake kick.
Stratford, however, scored on Buckles' 6-yard run late in the first quarter and went in front 14-8 on Brady Bell's 10-yard run with 7:23 to go in the second quarter.