By Score Atlanta
Class A
Aquinas 35, Stratford Academy 28
How the game was won: In a back and forth game in which no team had larger than a 7-point lead and saw four ties, Aquinas captured its first and only lead of the game with 1:09 remaining in the fourth quarter after Stratford quarterback Patrick Sims was picked off. The Fightin' Irish faced a fourth-and-one on their ensuing drive, but quarterback Liam Welch managed to pick up the first down. Soon after, Chris Gates scored on a 15-yard run to push Aquinas ahead and steal the win on the road.
Top Performers: D'angelo Durham powered the Aquinas offense on the ground and scored twice. The sophomore scored on a 25-yard run in the first quarter and a 71-yarder in the second which sent the game into the half tied at 14. …Chris Gates led the Irish with 141 yards on 18 carries. …Liam Welch scored twice on quarterback keepers with runs of nine and three yards. …Stratford was led by Sim Patrick who threw a 34-yard touchdown to Quintez Cephus and also added a 1-yard quarterback sneak for six; Cephus finished with five catches for 109 yards. …Tyler Jordan and O'Showen Williams both scored rushing touchdowns for the Eagles. …Williams gained 167 yards on the ground of 13 attempts.
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