Stratford Academy football wins first GIAA state championship in over 20 years

The Stratford Academy football team beat Brookstone School 14-7 to claim the GIAA 4A state championship Saturday night.

Saturday’s game took place at Mercer University’s Five Star Stadium. The Stratford Academy Eagles last played in the state championship in 2022, when they fell to St. Anne-Pacelli. Stratford also made the quarterfinal of the 2024 state championships, falling to the Brookstone Cougars in a one-possession game, according to results from maxpreps.

The team’s last state championship win was in 2004, according to the Stratford Academy football record book.

The varsity Eagles finished their season with an 11-2 record, while state runner-ups Brookstone from Columbus finished the year with a 10-3 record.

“Congratulations to the varsity football team who are your GIAA state champions! We are so proud of you,” Stratford Academy said in a Facebook post shortly after Saturday’s game.