Stratford looks to continue high level of play
Mark Farriba saw something different from his Stratford football team in its first-round win over Calvary Day in the GHSA Class A private school state playoffs.
The Eagles were clinging to a 14-7 lead, but Calvary Day was deep in Stratford territory. O'Showen Williams came up with the play of the game, an interception in the end zone to give Stratford the ball with three minutes left.
Calvary Day never saw the ball on offense again, as the Eagles ran the football for three straight first downs and the victory.
Stratford's reward? A trip to Pinecrest on Friday for a quarterfinal matchup.
"I felt like this was the type of game that we haven't won in the last three years," said Farriba, whose team sits at 8-3. "We held a very good football team to seven points, and we had to run the ball right at them to win. We made plays when we had to and created some turnovers and basically we played what I like to call 'playoff football.' It was a great win for our program."
Farriba is quick to caution that Stratford will need that same type of effort against Pinecrest.
"First of all, they are the only team to beat Mount Paran in the last two years," Farriba said. "They are going to run the flexbone and come right at us. Defensively they are a lot like us. I don't think they really have any superstars, but they are hard-nosed and scrappy.
"My real feeling about Pinecrest is that they are a bunch of overachievers. They are the No. 2 seed, they are 10-1, and we know that anything less than what we gave last weekend won't be good enough. But to still be playing football on the greatest football weekend in America is a great thrill for this team. Everyone wants to play football on Thanksgiving weekend."
Stratford has weapons on offense. Williams has 1,219 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns, and Kasey Sanders and Tyler Jordan have combined for another 1,400 rushing yards. But Stratford can also throw the football. Wisconsin commitment Quintez Cephus has made the transition to wide receiver and has 39 catches for 805 yards and 12 touchdowns. Quarterback Sim Patrick, a transfer from Holy Innocents, has thrown for 1,126 yards and 17 touchdowns.
"Sim has been able to come in as a senior and change the entire personality of our offense; because with him we were able to move Cephus to receiver," Farriba said. "For a team that wants to run the football, the ability to throw it is just huge. Sim doesn't have to be Tom Brady out there, but he has to be more than a game manager. We need him to make plays, and he has done that all year."
Patrick said he feels like his team is ready for Pinecrest.
"It will be a great challenge for us as a football team," he said. "Everyone had hopes of making it deep into the playoffs this year, and we aren't ready for it to end."