Stratford, Memorial football teams ready for playoffs

The football teams at Memorial and Stratford high schools head Saturday into pivotal division-level playoff games, with each winning their openers last week. Memorial High, at 7-4 for the season, will face Cypress Ridge High School at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 inside Pridgeon Stadium for the Class 5A-Division II contest. Cypress Ridge is 7-4 for the season, too.

The Mustangs arrive at Pridgeon Stadium following a come-from-behind 28-14 District 19-5A victory over Westside High School. Senior tailback Matt Collins in that game ran the ball 16 times for 141 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Jordan threw a 28-yard touchdown pass, too.

With a 9-2 record, Stratford High will face Friendswood, ranked 9-2, in a Class 4A-Division I area game at 1 p.m. Saturday at Mercer Stadium in Sugar Land. Stratford is the District 22-4A champion, beating Waltrip High School 59-7.

The team now has an eight-game winning streak. Against Waltrip, the Spartans ran and threw for a total of 500 offensive yards. Senior quarterback Freddy Price completed 7 of 14 passes for 204 yards in that game and had a 57-yard touchdown pass to senior Ragan Robinson.

Go Mustangs and Spartans!