Strawberry Crest got their first win of the year with a 7-0 victory over the Spoto Spartans.
Strawberry Crest earned their first victory of the season with a 7-0 win over the Spoto Spartans on Friday, moving to 1-2 on the season and matching their win total from 2020.
Despite the game originally being scheduled as a home game for Spoto, the game was moved to Strawberry Crest earlier in the week.
In a game that saw a mix of offensive struggles followed by strong defensive stands when eventually backed up, Strawberry Crest was ultimately the only team to put points on the board to take the victory.
The Chargers got the ball to start the game and were immediately into plus territory following a big return from wide receiver and cornerback Ryan Weems across midfield. Strawberry Crest moved into the red zone and quarterback Coby Burger fired for the end zone on fourth down but the pass fell incomplete. Defensive pass interference was called on Spoto but it wouldn’t gain enough to overcome the fourth-and-13 spot for a first down. The Chargers’ field goal unit was deployed but the kick was subsequently blocked and returned to the Spartans’ 24-yard line where Spoto would take over for their first possession.
Spoto would gain just one first down before punting back to the Chargers.
Strawberry Crest would answer with another successful drive, sitting just outside of the red zone before once again facing a fourth down situation, this time with four yards to gain. Quarterback Dylan Peeples rolled out to his right and fired to the sideline for receiver Marcus Springfield but the junior wideout wasn’t able to keep his feet in bounds despite hauling in the pass and the Chargers turned the ball over on downs at the Spoto 22-yard line.
Two plays later, facing a third-and-8, Spoto was able to convert with a big completion over the middle of the field but a holding penalty brought the play back and left the Spartans with a third-and-18 to overcome. The ensuing snap was fumbled for a loss and Spoto was backed up even further, standing in under the shade of their own goalposts as the punt team took the field.
And on a play that would ultimately decide the game, defensive lineman Brock Craig was able to get into the backfield and block the Spoto punt before outside linebacker Steel Craig jumped on the loose football for a touchdown. Strawberry Crest converted the extra point and took a 7-0 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.
Throughout the second half both teams narrowly failed to turn scoring opportunities into points and despite Strawberry Crest getting down inside the red zone multiple times, even driving down to the Spoto one-yard line late, the game would end 7-0.
Running back Ryan Weems was the top performer for the Chargers, hauling in an interception in the end zone to end the first half on top of a number of strong runs throughout the game. Defensively Steel Craig proved the difference maker with a number of plays in addition to his special teams touchdown, also recovering a Spoto fumble and returning it for a touchdown in the fourth quarter before the score was called back on a block in the back penalty.
Strawberry Crest will be on the road next Friday as they face a local opponent in Armwood High School.
