AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) - Only four teams remain on the road to the championship, and two of those teams are facing off against each other with a state semifinal berth on the line.
The Gruver Greyhounds and Stratford Elks are known rivals, but this Friday, the two teams will face off for the Class 2A Division II regional championship with more than just bragging rights on the line.
Both teams enter with identical records
Both teams are 11-2 on the season and have big win streaks coming into this game. The most important win comes from October 10 when the Elks took down the Greyhounds at home, 40-27, which played a big role in Stratford winning the District 1-2A Division II title.
Gruver is looking for revenge this time around, and Stratford is looking to spoil the Greyhounds’ chance of back-to-back state semifinal appearances.
Coaches expect tough battle
Both coaches know the other team presents strong challenges and it will be a dog fight on the football field Friday night.
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“That’s something that was started a long time ago there with tradition wise...they’re unique, kind of like us,” Gruver head football coach Kurt Haberthur said. “We have some good tight ends and they have good tight ends...that’s kind of hard to find in Class 2A. Their defense has been solid for several years and Coach Dave Lantleme does a great job with those guys. So yeah, it’ll be a test for sure and we’ll have to be sharp.”
“The thing that sets them apart that makes them such a special group right now is their athleticism,” said Jon Murphy, the Stratford head football coach. “The intensity that these guys play with...they flat out come after you and they do a really good job of pressuring you on both sides of the ball, and that’s because their kids, they care about it so much, but it’s also because they’re taught extremely well. I know that in order to beat those guys, we need to have a great game. I mean, not just any other good game, it’s got to be really, really great. I know that they feel the same way.”
Historic rivalry continues
This will be the 57th meeting between these two teams and second this year. Stratford leads the all-time series 38-17-1, but this game means more this time around with a chance to face either Muenster or Lindsay in the state semifinals.
The game starts at 7:00 p.m. CST Friday at Happy State Bank Stadium in Canyon.
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