Two dominant backs in Tyler Stephens and Dillon Terry are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Stratford Academy Eagles will square off against the Brookstone Cougars at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams are coming into the game red-hot, with Stratford Academy sitting on five straight wins and Brookstone on three.
Stratford Academy is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat George Walton Academy 33-6. Considering the Eagles have won seven contests by more than 26 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Stratford Academy's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Aaron Jefferson, who rushed for 69 yards and two TDs. Jefferson also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making eight total tackles and defending one pass.
Stratford Academy didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited George Walton Academy to a completion percentage of just 25%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from two players: Jefferson and George Dunn, who each logged one passes deflected. Stratford Academy wasn't nearly as limited: they posted one of 61.5%.
Stratford Academy didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Josh Butts, Travis Dugger, and Jett Johnston picked up one apiece. Stratford Academy got some further help from Maddox Whitehead: he picked up three sacks and made four total tackles.
Meanwhile, Brookstone got themselves on the board against First Presbyterian Day on Friday, but First Presbyterian Day never followed suit. They walked away with a 13-0 victory over the Vikings.
Brookstone's win came from a few key players Stratford Academy will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Broughton Branch, who threw for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes. What's more, he racked up 133.1 passer rating, the most he's had since back in August. Sammie Laboy was Branch's top target, picking up 34 receiving yards and one score, while also rushing for 43 yards.
Brookstone's win bumped their record up to 10-2. As for Stratford Academy, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 10-2.
Saturday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Stratford Academy has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 233.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Brookstone struggles in that department as they've been averaging 156.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Stratford Academy against Brookstone in their previous meeting back in September, as the squad secured a 41-14 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Eagles since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
