Elsik’s middle quarters do enough to hold off Stratford

Alief Elsik gave itself a little room Friday, then needed it. The Rams turned a 7–7 tie into a 28–14 advantage and held off Houston Stratford 28–21 at Crump Stadium.

Elsik kept Stratford scoreless in the second quarter and led 14–7 at halftime. Fourteen more points in the third put the Rams two touchdowns ahead. Stratford scored seven in the fourth, while Elsik’s offense went scoreless.

The Rams improved to 4–5. The Spartans fell to 3–6. Elsik’s work in the second and third quarters supplied the cushion that survived the finish.

I would rather see a team keep adding to the lead than leave an opponent a seven-point argument. Still, the Rams earned the margin they needed. For Elsik, the next useful step is turning a good middle stretch into a steadier four-quarter performance.

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