Third-ranked Stroud too much for Eagles

Stroud was in control of its game at Hennessey at halftime.

The Tigers took a stranglehold in the second half.

Third-ranked Stroud stayed unbeaten last Friday as it handed the Eagles a 42-0 loss on their home field.

The Tigers ran for 413 yards, scored all six touchdowns on the ground and held Hennessey scoreless for the first time this season.

Still, the Eagles have plenty of opportunity this week to get into the playoffs when they visit Casady.

A win lands Hennessey firmly in third place, but a loss doesn’t necessarily kick out the Eagles.

If Hennessey were to lose by eight or fewer points, it would end up fourth in the district.

A loss by nine or more points means Casady will grab that fourth spot and reach the postseason while Hennessey would stay home.

“We just need to go win,” said head coach Mark Cox, whose team won just one game a season ago.

Stroud clinched the district championship with its victory.

The Tigers had two backs run for over 100 yards and nearly had a third.

Kason Presley ran 20 times for 140 yards and three scores, including both in the first half as Stroud took a 16-0 lead at the break.

His first-quarter TD was from 10 yards out, then he scored again on a 6-yard run in the second.

Stroud added two touchdowns in each of the final two quarters.

Jacob Beck, who ran for 91 yards, scored on a 3-yard run in the third, followed by a 3-yard TD run by Presley.

Stroud also got 102 yards from Aiden Collins, including a 56-yard score in the fourth.

Gunnar Holder threw for 121 yards for the Eagles as he completed 14 of 26 attempts. He was picked off twice.

Brandon Rodriguez caught four passed for a team-high 60 yards.

Mario Lopez led the team with 35 rushing yards on seven carries. Holder added 34 yards.

Jakob Johns led the team with 12 tackles while Kevin Trillo and Rodriguez added 11 apiece.

The loss dropped Hennessey to 5-4 overall and 4-2 in District 2A-II-1.

Casady is 3-6 and 3-3. A Cyclones win in Week 10 with a projected loss by Luther to Stroud would put Hennessey, Luther and Casady into a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots.

Luther currently has 43 district points. The most district points teams can add or lose each week is 15, meaning the Lions would have, at minimum, 28 points after next week.

Hennessey currently sits at 18 points and Casady has zero.