Stepp's Top 10 Games of 2021: No. 4 - Stratford vs. Falls City

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4. Stratford 39, Falls City 27

December 16, 2021

Class 2A Division II State Championship

Arlington, TX

In an unlikely state title matchup featuring two squads from opposite ends of the state put on an absolute show in the first game of a state title tripleheader on December 16. Stratford behind an absolute dominant second half rallied from a halftime deficit to take down Falls City 39-27 to bring home their fourth state title in school history. 

Early on it was the Jaxson Pipes Show for Falls City as the typically ground-oriented Beavers got big plays from their WR. With 4:58 left in the first quarter, Pipes hauled in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Luke Shaffer to stake FCHS to a 7-0 lead. Stratford would answer with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped off by a three-yard touchdown run by Zane Burr to tie the game. Pipes would make his presence felt on the ensuring kickoff taking it 85-yards the other way for a touchdown to give Falls City the lead back at 14-7. 

Much of the second quarter was quiet, but in the last two minutes of the second quarter things heated up as Burr would get his second touchdown of the game with 2:16 left in the half to cut the lead to 14-13 as the PAT failed. Falls City would answer on the final play of the half as Shaffer would score from a yard out to put the Beavers up 21-13 at halftime, again FCHS showed their ability to throw the ball as two key passes from Shaffer to Grant Jendrusch and a key pass interference penalty put the Beavers in position to score. 

The second half would be all Stratford and it started on the opening kickoff as the Elks got a huge break as kicker Andre Duran mis-hit the ball which resulted in a wonky looking onside kick that Falls City couldn’t jump on, giving Stratford the ball with great field position. Mauricio Duran would cap the short drive with a five-yard touchdown run and after a failed two point conversion the Falls City lead was cut to 21-19. After forcing a Falls City punt, Stratford was pinned back at their own six-yard line. Stratford was unfazed as the Elks marched eight plays and 94 yards for a touchdown as QB Cody Rinne would score from a yard out, and Rinne’s pass to Dru Jones for the two-point try would give the Elks a 27-21 lead. The drive was keyed by the Rinne to Jones connection as Jones who finished with nine receptions for 205 yards caught two passes for 75 yards on the march.

Falls City would tie the game up on the first play of the fourth quarter as Shaffer found Grant Jendrusch for a 52-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 27-27 as the PAT was blocked. Stratford would answer on the next series with an impressive ten play 75-yard drive capped off with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Rinne to Jones. Jones was key on the drive again rushing for 23-yards and then hauling in the touchdown pass to put the Elks up 33-27. 

After forcing a Falls City fumble on the next drive, Stratford delivered the death-blow with 1:24 remaining as Rinne and Jones connected again, this time for a 32-yard touchdown pass to cement the win and the state title at 39-27 in front of a crowd of 5,002. 

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