Stratford reloading fresh off 2A D-II state title, move up to D-I

The Stratford Elks' 2021 season came to an end the way any high school football team from any level throughout Texas dreams about when the season begins in August: with a state championship title in Arlington's AT&T Stadium.

Just over nine months removed from Stratford's 39-27 Class 2A Division II championship win over Falls City, the Elks will return to the gridiron minus 2021 AGN Football Player of the Year Cody Rinne, state championship game hero Dru Jones, mauling defensive lineman Isaac Gonzales, and several other standout contributors.

However, for Stratford coach Matt Lovorn and the rest of the Elks, the goal remains simple and the same: be the last team standing at the end of the season.

"For us, the expectations don't change," Lovorn said. "We're approaching this season the same way we have in the years past. I was talking to a bunch of our seniors the other day about moving up to Division I and we just see it is a really good challenge for us."

The Elks' offense will need to replace the production of Rinne at quarterback, who finished last season completing 143-of-221 passes for 2,373 yards and 21 touchdowns with eight interceptions in Stratford's split-back offense. He was an even bigger threat with his legs, falling just short of the 2,000-yard mark and ending his final high school season with 1,986 yards and 35 touchdowns on the ground.

Stepping in for the graduated quarterback will be 6-foot-2 sophomore Bryce Braden. The state discus bronze medalist and one of last season's leading tacklers (183) throughout the Texas Panhandle attempted two passes last season and carried the ball 12 times.

Despite Braden's limited time spent running the offense, Lovorn has trust in his new signal caller and is expecting a strong season from the physical dual-threat playmaker.

"We're excited to get him back there and he's going to do a good job," Lovorn said. "If we didn't think he could do it, we wouldn't be sticking him back there."

Stratford's new starting quarterback will have a strong receiving corps and a stellar balanced running back in senior Zane Burr to help him acclimate into his new role.

Burr played through the entire 2021 postseason with a torn shoulder labrum and is expected to be a team captain once again after rushing for 1,297 yards and 22 touchdowns last fall.

"We couldn't have been where we were or who we were late in the season without him," Lovorn said. "He's healthy as a horse now and a big-time leader for us."

Senior Luke Braden, Bryce's older brother, will suit up at tight end with his strong 6-foot-4 frame and returns as the leading receiver for the Elks. He is coming off a junior year that included 31 catches for 494 yards and three touchdowns.

On the outside, senior Mauricio Duran (14 catches, 294 yards, TD) joins fellow senior Alfredo Duarte (2 catches, 31 yards, TD) as the only Elks with prior on-field production in the passing game.

The Elks offensive line returns three starters in seniors Emiliano Alvarez, Julio Castillo, and Ben Paez to anchor the explosive offensive's front.

Stratford returns all four starting linebackers to their base 3-4 defense with inside thumpers Bryce Braden and Burr joining outside threats Luke Braden and Adan Duran.

The Elks' starting linebacker group combined for just shy of 500 total tackles (487) and nine sacks last season. With each of those players stepping into bigger roles this season, the expectation is that they will build on their outstanding 2021 seasons and continue to be shutdown defenders.

That quartet will line up behind Castillo (48 tackles in 2021) and the rest of the rotational Stratford defensive line that will include Alvarez, Paez, senior Antonio Duran, and junior Karston Long.

In the secondary, Lovorn will have Duarte and Mauricio Duran joining sophomore Santiago Ibarra and a few new young members of the defensive backfield. Duarte was third on the team last fall with five interceptions and the Elks will need his ball-hawking ability roving the defense this season.

"The defensive unit as a whole is probably what I'm most excited about just because we have a ton of experience coming back on that side," Lovorn said.

The Elks do not have much depth throughout their roster and will need to stay healthy in order to have the successful season that they are hoping for. What they do have is a recent track record of winning and a starting lineup filled with fast players that have big-game experience and have produced against the toughest competition.

Stratford enters the new season as the newest member of District 1-2A Division I and will face a tough non-district schedule before going head-to-head with their new district rivals.

"It's going to be fun to play against these teams that it has been a few seasons since we've seen them and see what we can do at Division I," Lovorn said.

STRATFORD ELKS

Head coach: Matt Lovorn

2021 record: 15-1 overall, 4-0 in district; Class 2A Division II State Champions

Base offense: Split Back

Base defense: 3-4

Last playoff appearance: 2021

Returning Lettermen: 12

Top returners: RB/LB Zane Burr, TE/OLB Luke Braden, OL/DL Julio Castillo, WR/DB Mauricio Duran, WR/DB Alfredo Duarte, QB/LB Bryce Braden, OL/DL Ben Paez

SCHEDULE

Aug. 26: vs. Spearman, 7 p.m.

Sep. 2: at Sunray, 7 p.m.

Sep. 9: vs. Gruver, 7 p.m.

Sep. 16: at Vega, 7 p.m.

Sep. 23: OPEN

Sep. 30: at Perryton, 7 p.m.

Oct. 7: vs. Farwell, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 14: vs. Panhandle, 7 p.m.*

Oct. 21: at Sanford-Fritch, 7 p.m*

Oct. 28: vs. Highland Park, 7 p.m.*

Nov. 4: at West Texas High, 7 p.m.*

* - Denotes district game

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Stratford reloading fresh off 2A D-II state title, move up to D-I