The Stratford Elks had already proven themselves in the regular season, and didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They took their match on the road on Friday with ease, bagging a 46-6 win over Hawley. The win was just business as usual for Stratford, who after 14 games remain undefeated this season.
It was another big night for Bryce Braden, who rushed for 161 yards and three touchdowns, and also threw for 128 yards and two touchdowns on only 11 passes. Julio Valdez was in the mix too, providing Stratford with two touchdowns.
Another reason for the win was Stratford's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for eight sacks. The heavy lifting was done by Lane Uttley and Josue Licon who racked up five sacks between them.
Hawley's loss came despite a true team effort from the offense, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Diontay Ramon, who picked up 205 receiving yards and a touchdown. Ramon's longest reception was for an incredible 99 yards.
Stratford's win bumped their record up to 14-0. As for Hawley, their loss dropped their record down to 11-3.
Stratford is on the road again on Friday and play against Tolar at 7:00 p.m. on December 8th. Tolar is also coming in off of a big victory, so somebody is in for a big reversal of fortune. Hawley does not have any more games scheduled as of now.
