Special Performances Lift Stratford To Rivalry Win

By Rob Gantt

Special to the HSSR

GOOSE CREEK - Stratford High School’s football team has its first reward for all of its hard work during the dog days of summer and, with it, the Golden Goose Trophy for the fourth straight season.

Quarterback Caleb Lott threw three touchdown passes and the Knights turned two blocked punts into instant points to power the home team over visiting rival Goose Creek High School, 42-14, in a non-region clash played Sept. 14 on Ray Stackley Field. The game was postponed three days due to field conditions Friday.

The win was the first of the season for Coach Dennie McDaniel’s bunch, which opened up with losses to Berkeley, Cane Bay and Northwestern.

“Tonight I was proud of the guys for doing all the little things right,” McDaniel said. “We had guys blocking downfield. We threw a 10-yard pass and it went for a 60-yard touchdown pass because we had guys blocking downfield. We’ve got guys in coverage doing what they’re supposed to do, keeping the ball outside and forcing the ball back in. Our run defense was great all night. It’s a testament to what we can do when we play as a team.”

Stratford, which goes to Ashley Ridge Friday, opened up on fire to take control in the rivalry matchup. After the defense stymied the Gators on a fourth-and-short inside their own 30, Lott connected with tight end Micah Adams for a 29-yard touchdown on the Knights’ first play for scrimmage to make it 6-0.

Knights Antonio Holley and Kermit Davis then put the special in special teams by getting through to block Gators punts on their next two possessions, finishing the impact plays themselves in the end zone as Stratford built a 21-0 lead in the first quarter.

“Micah has been doing an unreal job, just blocking and being a leader on the team,” McDaniel said. “Caleb’s performance was really good tonight. We”ve been telling Antonio he”s been so close. We’ve been working on him. We’ve told him once you get one it’s contagious. Hopefully he’ll get some more this season.”

The Gators showed some life in the second quarter, opening up with a 1-yard scoring run by Elijah Mack, but Lott and primary target Jayden Lee squashed any hopes of a comeback by hooking up on scores of 24 and 62 yards over the next four minutes to push Stratford’s lead to 35-7.

Goose Creek quarterback Tyler Holmes sent the game into halftime with a 27-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter that pulled the Gators within 35-14.

The only tally during the second half came courtesy of Stratford running back Kobie Mayes, who ripped off a 45-yard run late in the third quarter.

“I was more proud of how our guys played unselfishly tonight than I was with the big plays we made,” McDaniel said. “That’s what we’ve been preaching. Little things lead to big things. Obviously, that gave us a big victory tonight.”

Goose Creek dropped to 1-3 with its third straight loss under first-year coach Jamie Fordham. The Gators host White Knoll Friday.

“I think Coach Fordham and his guys played hard the whole game,” McDaniel said. “He’s doing a great job and building some excitement over there. He knows it’s going to be a year of growth for them. I understand exactly where he’s starting at. We started the same way here nine years ago.”