Tigers Draw Stratford Spartans for First Round in D2

Posted by KT2000 at November 15, 2008

Tigers vs. Spartans at Tully

The Stratford Spartans came into this season breaking in several new varsity players after the talented class featuring quarterback Andrew Luck (Stanford) graduated. Hurricane Ike put Stratford’s rebuilding plan on hold after their initial shut out win over Macarthur. Stratford missed a month of football due to the storm.

The Spartans immediately jumped into district play against Alief Taylor in their first game back on the field September 27th. Stratford won a tight game against Taylor that ultimately proved key in securing a playoff spot. The Spartans officially clinched their post-season place against Elsik two weeks ago in a 28-14 win before losing to district champions Strake Jesuit last week.

Junior quarterbacks Mark Benninger and Andrew Mitchell have taken snaps this season as the successors to Andrew Luck. Luck was a three-year starter as a quarterback and punter, so this was obviously a big unknown for the Spartans early this season. Benninger is the leading passer of the two. They are both mobile and they are used on designed quarterback runs (read option in particular).

Stratford operates from multiple sets, mostly the shotgun, and spread the field. Senior tailback Rodney Anderson emerged as an all-district player last year as a junior. Anderson has big play ability and he is also a key return man. Senior Tim Graves is similar in stature and ability to Anderson. The Spartans like to work the short passing game with their receivers and backs, and let them work for yards after the catch. Junior receivers Brett Benninger and Derwin Amboree are two of the t op receiving targets. Amboree is the smallest player on the team, but has good speed. He returns kicks as well. The offensive line starts several juniors. The Spartans aren’t huge on the offensive line. They are about average size for a spread line (players between 240-260 pounds).

The Spartans have more senior experience on defense. Senior defensive end Terrence Lloyd (6’4 230) is one of the best defensive linemen in the state. Lloyd is verbally committed to Missouri. Lloyd drew college interest after a strong junior season and was nominated for Touchdown Club Defensive Player of the Year in August this year. Junior LaCorey Pace and senior Corbin Harrell are two more Spartans who help plug things up front. Stratford made two 4th and short stands on defense to preserve their big win over Elsik thanks in large part to Lloyd and the defensive line.

Senior free safety Jerry Young is one of the key contributors in the secondary along with seniors Erik Odem, Cole Skinner and Roland Rodriguez. Young made two big interceptions in the game against Elsik. Senior Jonathan Baron is one of the top linebackers. This is a Stratford defense that likes to keep the field contained and make opponents work for scores. Alief Taylor, Memorial and Strake Jesuit were the only three teams to score more than 14 points on Stratford in the regular season.

Sophomore kicker Jesus Loa has been a steady force on special teams for Stratford this season. He has field goal kicking range over 40 yards. The return game is also a threat because of the quick Spartans mentioned above like Anderson, Amboree and Graves.

This is Stratford’s third trip in a row to the post-season after a 12 year run without participating in the playoffs from 1994 through 2005. The Spartans advanced to the second round in 2006 before losing by one point to Cy Falls, and advanced to the third round last year (lost to Clements).

JUST THE BASICS

Record (5-3, 4-3)
Coach- Elliot Allen (45-28 record at SHS)

Stratford 31 Aldine Macarthur 0
Stratford 31 Alief Taylor 24
Memorial 28 Stratford 10
Alief Hastings 9 Stratford 0
Stratford 28 Northbrook 13
Stratford 17 Spring Woods 0
Stratford 28 Alief Elsik 14
Strake Jesuit 21 Stratford 13

PPG- 19.8, PAPG- 13.6, Margin- 6.1

Top Players

#19 RB Rodney Anderson, 5’7 165, Sr.
#90 DE Terrence Lloyd, 6’4 230, Sr. (Missouri commit)