Stratford football exchanged touchdowns with Healdton Friday night until an interception shifted the game in Healdton’s favor.
With a little over 5 minutes left in the game, Stratford was down by 6. On third and 9, Stratford quarterback Lincoln Hall threw a pass that landed in Healdton hands.
“Things are going to happen. I have to keep my head up and be a good leader,” Hall said.
Three plays later, Healdton’s Rod Franklin scored on a 40-yard run, for a final score of 26-14.
“We ran into a very physical team with too many guys hurt right now,” said Coach Michael Blackburn. “The real season starts next week.”
Hall ended Healdton’s opening drive by snagging a Healdton pass out of the air.
Stratford then struggled to get a first down. Healdton found the endzone on a 4-yard run, but Stratford stopped the two-point conversion attempt.
Early in the second quarter, Braxton Bear caught a 44-yard pass from Hall for a touchdown.
A second Healdton touchdown was answered with Hall throwing a 15-yard pass to Dax Ross. Stratford gained the halftime lead with another Hall to Ross pass for the twopoint conversion.
“I had good routes by my receivers and good blocks from my linemen,” Hall said.
Stratford did not score in the second half. “We could have executed better, read our keys better, and played as a team better,” Ross said. “Overall, we just have to get over the humps as a team and get better. We have to get over the plays the other team had and strike right back.”
Stratford will kick off district competition Friday as they host Okemah at 7 p.m.