Knights coast past Wando

Goose Creek -- Stratford football coach Ray Stackley didn't want to put his head on the pillow Friday night wondering about his team's playoff fate when the numbers are added up this morning.

A big first quarter Friday night ensured he wouldn't have to.

The Knights raced out to a 17-0 lead halfway through the first period and coasted to a 34-13 win over Wando that gave them a third-place finish in Region 7-AAAA and a guaranteed spot in the Class AAAA Division I playoffs.

"They had been playing good defense all year, but we had a lot of players step up on offense," Stackley said. "I thought our offensive line played good. It was big to go up on them early."

Stratford (7-4, 2-2) scored all the points it needed on its first two offensive plays.

Running back Shaquille Brown, seeing more action because of an injury to leading rusher Devin Washington, connected with receiver Francis Lloyd for a 72-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game, and then Ryan Barnwell raced 30 yards for a score to start the Knights' second series.

"We thought they might come up on us, and it was wide open," Stackley said of the trickery that ignited the blowout.

Barnwell's ensuing touchdown run left Wando's defense dazed. The Warriors, who were 13th in scoring defense out of 48 teams in Class AAAA, never responded.

Cole Rymer added a 31-yard field goal in the first quarter, and Brown ran in from the 3 near the end of the first half as Stratford opened up a comfortable 24-0 lead.

The Knights begin the playoffs Friday, likely on the road.

Wando (2-9, 1-3) will likely miss the playoffs in its first season under Jimmy Noonan.

"We've just got to get some folks well," Stackley said. "We've got a lot of folks that are banged up and we've got some bruises. When you get in the Big 16 playoffs, every football team is going to be good, and it helps to be healthy."

Barnwell finished with 67 yards rushing on 16 carries, and Lloyd caught eight passes for 127 yards.

Knights quarterback Chris Hanna finished 11 of 16 passing for 107 yards.

S--Francis Lloyd 72 pass from Shaquille Brown (Cole Rymer kick)

S--Ryan Barnwell 30 run (Rymer kick)

S--Rymer 31 FG

S--Brown 3 run (Rymer kick)

S--Rymer 23 FG

W--Brandon Eakins 18 pass from Conner Anderson (Paul Peeples kick)

S--Ryan Eichelberger 8 run (Rymer kick)

W--Lee Oree 5 run (pass failed)