Stanford rescues Spartans
KATY — There was plenty at stake on Friday at Legacy Stadium in a midseason matchup of Seven Lakes and Morton Ranch.
Even perennial state power Katy had more than a passing interest in this District 19-6A game. Should both Seven Lakes and Tompkins qualify for the state playoffs, Katy would play in the Division II bracket.
Friday’s game also had its share of excitement. The outcome wasn’t decided until Scott Stanford’s 1-yard touchdown run with 22 seconds left, propelling Seven Lakes to a 21-18 victory over Morton Ranch.
“We made plays,” said quarterback Grayson Medford, who engineered the Spartans’ last series. “We were patient, dealt with the pressure. We were so locked in.
“This game was everything. They were playing for something, just like we were — a playoff spot, and that’s all that matters.”
Realistically, fourth place in district was on the line.
Not only did Stanford score the go-ahead touchdown, the senior outside linebacker tackled Josh Johnson on a 2-point conversion attempt that prevented the Mavericks from tying the game earlier in the fourth quarter. Stanford also blocked an extra-point attempt that kept the Spartans up a point in the second quarter.
The victory was huge for Seven Lakes (5-2, 2-1), which has an open date next week before playing Tompkins.
“Our whole team can get healthy,” Stanford said. “We have a good battle coming up in two weeks.
“We’ve been going at it for seven straight weeks, we’re all beat up, we’re all sore. This week (being off ) is going to be really good.”
Morton Ranch pushed Seven Lakes on Friday.
The Mavericks scored on a 5yard keeper by Johnson with 6:16 left to get within 14-12. On the pivotal 2-point conversion, Johnson was stopped for a loss by Stanford.
After the Mavericks scored to take their first lead with 2:01 left on a 26-yard pass from Johnson to Santana Scott, the Spartans answered with a 75-yard game-winning drive. Stanford, who played exclusively at quarterback as a sophomore, ran off right tackle for the decisive points.
“That’s part of our goal-line package to have him do that,” Spartans coach Jimmy Hamon said.
On the Spartans’ final drive, Medford picked up most of his team-high 106 yards rushing.
“We knew that when they rush up the field on him, he’s capable of escaping,” Hamon said. “He created havoc.”
Neither team ran a complicated offense, staying mostly on the ground.
In the second half Morton Ranch changed its game plan, putting Ryan Hall in at running back for a big backfield and moving Scott to receiver.
The adjustments paid off for the Mavericks, but the Spartans got the ball last and were able to answer.
Michael Amico scored on runs of 11 and 12 yards for Seven Lakes and finished with 59 yards. Barrett Hudson added 73 yards on the ground.
Medford was 7-of-8 passing for 67 yards.
Morton Ranch (3-3, 1-1) had just 40 players suited up against the Spartans but stayed in the game as Scott ran for 112 yards.
Down 14-6 with three minutes remaining in third quarter, Morton Ranch faked a 21-yard field goal on fourth down, but Mike Gerald threw an incomplete pass in the end zone.
Linebackers Stanford and Cooper Whitten, as well as lineman Ikechika Ezima, stood out defensively for Seven Lakes, which led 14-6 at halftime.
Playing well defensively for Morton Ranch were defensive backs Ki’Juan Tavarez and Rene Luna and linebacker Carsen Luna.
After a scoreless first quarter, Seven Lakes got on the board first on Amico’s 11-yard run with 7:29 left in the opening half.
On Morton Ranch’s next possession, a 67-yard pass from Johnson to Scott set up a Johnson-toGerald 6-yard touchdown pass to pull the Mavericks within 7-6.