Stratford last ditch stand secures win over Socastee 23-17

By Neill Kirkpatrick

Special to the HSSR

Goose Creek – Clinging to a 23-17 lead the home standing Stratford Knight’s needed one more defensive stop to get the win over the Socastee Braves and Wes Snowden and Otis Gardner delivered as they sacked Socastee quarterback Christian Royals at the Stratford 26 to preserve the win.

“It was not the prettiest of nights, we had a lot of penalties and we have to work on our discipline but we were able to find a way to win the game. I am very proud of the way our defense was able to bow their necks on the last play and come up with a big sack to win the ball game,” said Stratford head coach Dennie McDaniel.

The win was the first of the year for the Knights (1-3) and it was made sweeter as Stratford was celebrating the 25^th anniversary of their undefeated (15-0) Big 16 State Championship team. The 1999 team coached by Hall Famer Ray Stackley sent 11 seniors to play at the next level while finishing the year ranked 22^nd in the nation according to USA Today. Ironically, it was a defensive stand on the final play inside the ten that cemented their 24-17 win over upstate power Dorman.

The game featured two teams that are still trying to find their identities and the consistency it takes to become a good football team. Both teams showed the ability to move the football on offense but penalties stopped promising drives for each teams.

Coach McDaniel, “We are a good football team when play up to our capabilities and play discipline football.”

Socastee head coach Ben Hampton echoed the same sentiment, “We talk about it every day, that we cannot hurt ourselves. We missed some open receivers, dropped some balls and had too many penalties at key times. I thought our defense played their tails off but we are not interested in moral victories. Tough lose but we have to get ready for the next one.”

The Knights started the game on offense and took possession of the ball at their 32. They quickly moved the ball into Braves territory after junior quarterback Jachin Davis kept the ball around the right side for a 28-yard gain to the Braves 37. Both teams committed penalties before Davis connected with tight end Jacob Deacon on a 25 yard gain down to a first and goal at the Braves 10. Davis scored from 13-yards out but a holding call negated the score and the Braves Cade Radvansky sacked Davis on third down to force a field goal attempt. Stratford senior kicker Jessie Stament drilled his first field goal of the Knight from 35-yards and the Knights had a 3-0 lead.

“That’s Jessie, he has been solid for us since his sophomore year,” said coach McDaniel.

The Braves began their first possession at their 43 and needed 7-plays to take a 7-3 lead. Royals went 3-4 on the drive for 51 yards and a touchdown. He connected twice with Hayes Hardwick with the second one going for six.

The Knights would take the lead for good when they went 78 yards in five plays to go up 10-7. Davis hit J’Qwan Crosby with a beautiful thrown go route for a 47-yard touchdown. Davis accounted for 57 of the 78 yards.

After Socastee went three and out, the Knights went on a drive that consumed 5:40 on the clock driving down to the Braves 13-yardline where again a penalty and sack by the Braves Daniel Devaux derailed the drive. Stament would nail his second field goal of the game from 37-yards out. The Knight’s lead was now 13-7.

The Braves would get the ball back with 1:35 on the clock. Starting from their 34, Royals would complete passes to Jonathan Goswick and Hardwick to move the ball to the Knights 48 before disaster struck. Royals, under heavy pressure, threw to the right side where his pass was picked off by Amir McKnight giving the Knights the ball at their 47 with 1:01 on the clock.

The Knights would need just four plays to go up 20-7 as the teams headed to the break. On the drive Francis Lloyd would move the ball the Braves 14 yard line on runs of 39 and five yards where the Knights called timeout with :32 seconds to play. On the next play Malachi Breland went up the middle untouched for a 14-yard score. The Knights scored 10 points in the final 1:35.

“The 10-points right before half were big for us. It gave us confidence and a boast heading into the half,” Coach McDaniel said.

The third quarter was dominated early on as Stratford forced two Socastee punts and a Socastee turn over to Stratford once before the Braves special teams made a big play. The Braves defense forced the Knights into a punting situation from their 21. Devaux came off the left edge to block the Knights punt. The ball was kicked out of the back of the end zone for a safety and the Knights lead was cut to 20-9.

Hardwick returned the ensuing free kick 37-yards to the Stratford 44-yard line. Royals was again on point as he went 3-3 for 27 yards connecting twice with Hardwick. The second one went for a 9-yard touchdown and the Braves cut the lead to three at 20-17.

The Knights responded by going on a 6 minute and 45 second drive. The drive started at the 32 and ended at the Socastee 21 when Stament connected on field goal number three from 38-yards out. The lead was back to six at 23-17 setting up the exciting finish.

The Braves began their final possession at their three-yard line with 2:32 left in the game. After a five-yard run by Amare Godfrey and a facemask moved the Braves out to the 22. Royal’s and Hardwick connected again for 20 yards and suddenly the Braves were close to midfield with 1:50 on the clock. Godfrey moved the ball across midfield with an 11-yard run where Stratford called a timeout.

After the timeout Royal’s completed four consecutive throws to Goswick moving the ball to the Stratford 11 with 14 seconds to go. Royal’s dropped back on the next play and he got pressure up the middle. He scrambled right and with open field in front of him he raced into the endzone for the apparent game tying touchdown but a holding penalty took the touchdown off the board and set up the final play where the sack by Snowden and Gardner ended the threat and the game.

The Knights have momentum heading into their off week with the win. They will travel to Colleton County (1-3) in two weeks. The Cougars picked up their first win a 50-0 win over Stall.

The Braves also have a bye week this week before the host a 4-0 Loris team.