Tattnall rolls past Stratford, extends winning streak to six games with 28-12 victory

In a highly anticipated showdown under the Friday night lights, Tattnall Square Academy claimed city bragging rights with a decisive 28-12 victory over Stratford Academy. 

The battle of two Macon rivals did not disappoint, with both teams putting up a fight in front of an electric crowd on Tattnall’s home turf. With the win, the Trojans extended their winning streak to six games and strengthened their foothold in region play.

From the start, Tattnall’s offense set the tone. Quarterback Caden Faulk executed a beautiful play-action pass to tight end William Stewart, who broke loose down the field and nearly reached the end zone, setting the Trojans up deep in Stratford territory. On the very next play, Tattnall turned to versatile running back Antone Johnson, who lined up in the wildcat formation. 

With a quick toss back to Stewart, he launched a jump pass into the end zone for the game’s opening score. The Trojans jumped ahead 7-0 early in the first quarter, giving the home crowd plenty to cheer about.

Coach John Abernathy was happy with his team’s fight and execution from the opening kick.

 “Our guys just know how to fight. They’re fighters at heart. We practice hard. It’s the best week of practice we’ve had. Our guys, for whatever reason, man, they just refuse to lose at this point right now,” Abernathy said.

The Trojans’ defense, led by standout linebacker Anson Talcott, quickly shut down Stratford’s early attempts to answer. Talcott was everywhere, making key tackles and playing a pivotal role in keeping Stratford off the scoreboard throughout the first half. Tattnall’s defense swarmed to the ball, forcing Stratford to punt and struggle for field position all night.

Tattnall’s offense kept the pressure on. Late in the first half, Faulk connected with wide receiver Ty Hunnicutt for a spectacular diving touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone. 

The highlight-reel play put the Trojans up 14-0 and earned a spot as one of the top plays of the night. Hunnicutt, who had two touchdown catches in the game, was a consistent threat in the passing game, keeping Stratford’s secondary on their heels.

Just before halftime, Braxton Collins delivered a huge defensive play for the Trojans, coming up with a crucial interception near midfield. The turnover gave Tattnall another chance to score, and they capitalized. Faulk found Johnson once again in the flat, who made a man miss and leaped into the end zone for a three-yard touchdown, extending the Trojans’ lead to 21-0 at the half.

Stratford regrouped during the break and came out with a renewed sense of urgency. Early in the third quarter, running back Chase Spencer finally broke through Tattnall’s stout defense, sprinting into the end zone to cut the lead to 21-6. However, the missed extra point kept the Eagles from fully swinging the momentum their way.

Tattnall’s defense wasn’t done making plays, however. 

Late in the third quarter, Stratford’s offense began to gain traction after Tyler Burnett came up with a critical interception, giving the Eagles prime field position. But the Trojans’ defense held firm once again, refusing to allow Stratford to capitalize on the turnover. 

Stratford coach Paul Carroll’s frustration was evident after the game. 

“We’re just not making plays right now, and it’s a lot of young kids, but we’ve got to make plays,” he said.

Despite some flashes of improvement from Stratford in the second half, the Eagles couldn’t close the gap. As the fourth quarter rolled on, Tattnall delivered the final blow. 

Faulk dropped back and launched a deep ball to Hunnicutt, who raced 80 yards down the sideline for his second touchdown of the night. The play electrified the home crowd and put the game out of reach, giving the Trojans a commanding 28-6 lead.

Stratford would tack on a late score with a 40-yard touchdown pass from Connor Fitzpatrick to Jett Johnston, but it was too little, too late. Abernathy emphasized the importance of maintaining focus as the season progresses. “It’s really difficult to keep an undefeated team rolling, but we have a loss, and we try to make sure our kids know that we are beatable if we don’t play our best,” he explained.