Stratford High School - Mnemosyne Yearbook (Houston, TX)

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Reading the defensive line, Quarterback Mark Gabrisch C155 gives the ball to Full- back Kevin Adams f43l, as Senior Tony Kimmey 4681 and junior Chuck Thomas C731 throw clearing blocks to help advance the team to a comfortable 44-6 lead over the Madison Marlins. -I' ake a potent wishbone offense that rushed for 7060 yards and 554 points combined with a quick, powerful defense that gave up only 142 points, and the result is the Texas 4-A Cham- pionship team, boasting a season record of 15-0. The season began against the Indians from Port Neches Groves in a game that was, influential in setting the pace for the rest of the season, according to Senior Kevin Adams. The three year starter at fullback said, All 112 varsity football through the offseason, all we thought about was beating Port Neches. At the end of every prac- tice, someone would give a speech, and we'd all yell 'beat Port Neches' before we ran off the field. And on a hot, injury- laden night at Port Neches, the Spartans did just that, winning 30-28, solely on strong perform- ances by the defense and the offensive reserves. The competition a week later seemed even tougher, though, as the team had to face the LaPorte Bulldogs, then ranked number one in the Houston area and fifth in state. Houston area press praised LaPorte, saying it had one of the strongest offenses in the state. Head Coach Oscar Cripps concurred, comment LaPorte was the biggest t our defense because they the most physical talent potential ability. The La offense never got a ch prove itself though, as the tans controlled the ball all n and glided to an easy 27-7 tory. In what had to be the pre-season anywhere in the the final game came aga Lamar Consolidated, ran eighth in the area by both Chronicle and the Post. The tangs, led by bluechip run back Ernest jackson, just not put anything together despite seven Spartan tt Stratford won 48-7, ama

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n sports the basics of running, Workouts and exercising were put an expanded use when Spartan ath- fs hit the playing field. he team effort took hold as varsity tball won the 17AAAA State Champi- ,hip. District titles went to both the nis team and the sophomore football tad, while varsity volleyball placed ond in district play. Individual efforts tennis team members Ellen Hopkins I Mary O'Rourke led to a state cham- nsip in girls'doubles. arsity basketball finished with an n season playing under a new coach with a predominantly junior team. teanwhile sophomore footballers Emed of state in '80 as they enjoyed -loss season. Although such records ,not happen for the other underclass Eds, the teams and coaches stuck the workouts on the basics that ld bring a championship season. 'wiched between two opponents, Lisa Brath over the two mile cross country route. rding to Tit Henderson, who also runs cross try, each school is responsible tor setting up own course. One time we ran over a golf fe . . . said Tit. the year was e t i u n wud' l 7' N Ni inggood use ofa time out during a e against the Memorial Mustangs, tans Bill Alford, Dave Woods, Mark Ben Langston, and Bill Purcell dis- strategy with Coaches Guy Barre lynn Funk. l Y ,au -6 ' '51 KX ' 'Q Mm ... i.s...? W-.X .xg H x sports ill

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41 lt-UU' 'Z 414 any' ng up the middle Senior Kevin ms 1435 picks up yardage in the ecoming game against Alief Hast The Spartans beat Hastings 48 6 to g their season record to 7 O Auf! we if vein, .i 6313.117 uvcwfftlllnivllgj Poli ft mer rites r 600 yards total offense. fter a spectacular pre-season wing the Spartans encoun- d only one difficult game ugh in a 14-6 defensive strug- against Spring Woods a team o led the Houston area in nsive statistics at the time. In first district game Stratford ated Elsik 42-O. In the games t followed the Spartans eated Spring Woods 14-6' morial 31-O' Alief Hastings 1Homecoming 5' Spring nch 34-6' and Northbrook the final game of the season inst arch-rival Westchester Spartans won easily 41-22 in a soaked game in which Sen- halfback Craig james rushed ern Imes the faces of Kerry Her- on 1595, jim Hugenard 1525, Greg son 155, and Chris jackson 1665 dur- a tense defensive struggle with g Woods, who allowed only 2 sec- quarter scores. ,tx . s , I if ...1 ' ' 1 101 ' .Sli 'TLfIZITIZLI.,l:LI:.f, LQJ , P ' ff l 3 1' 1 ln 4' 5' , F' 'i fl lf 1 l Q-ff' i' f 1: . I -.JJ -t..g,tJ c, m . 'i Ju, 0 i H , JL. ,, fin. 1 1 15. , f lf- i Q if fl Q1 - if - - ,J .t 1 . V 'K . l ' h fs li ,A V - I ll ,nf XX! fs if-,4 if-wx' ' te., .L ' , 1 ' uz:'zf:J::l1nw-aztec-nvt1f1:1:', -'T-5-ilfvvv-nv-:ln 1 . 1 I I . 1 . 1 ' 1 1 I I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 I . - Slipping down aftera first-half intercep- tion, Senior Chris Hayes 1715 bites hard on his mouthpiece in anticipation of being hit by the Ram defender. Despite 6 first-half offensive turnovers, the defense held Kashmere to 9 points. Executing the triple option against the Kashmere Rams, Quarterback Mark Gabrisch 1155 fakes a hand-off to Full- back Kevin Adams 1435, while Scott McLaughlin 1745 throws a protecting block. On Dec. 1, the Spartans glided past Kashmere 31-9. QX 35 1 -'- fk varsity football 113