Stroud’s magical season ended prematurely Friday when the Davis Wolves up-ended the previously unbeaten Tigers, 14-6, in the state semifinals at Noble.
Davis advanced to the Class 2A-II state championship game at UCO on Saturday.
The Tigers had a chance to win the game until their final possession, but they handicapped themselves with turnovers and struggled to contain Brenden Rawls, Davis’s 5-10, 210-pound tank-like running back.
“Sometimes the ball doesn’t bounce your way and you’re going to have days like that,” Stroud coach Josh Presley said. “It wasn’t because of lack of effort. The kids played their hearts out.
“I felt horrible for them. They left it all on the field, and if you do that, what else can you ask for?”
Stroud dropped to 12-1 for the year and 11 seniors - Kason Presley, Dylan Baker, Leo Neuman, Patrick Gasper, Seth Anthony, Jaxon Stanger, Chandler Davis, Cash Wright, Mason Wood, Jordan Lindsey and Ty Stafford - capped off their careers with a fouryear 38-13 record.
The seniors had an unbeaten regular season, won three district championships and went three rounds deep in the playoffs the last three years.
Friday, though, their story came to its conclusion. Davis scored on its first possession and led, 7-0, until Jacob Beck ran 22 yards for a score with 3:38 left in the first half. The try for a two-point conversion failed and Davis led by a point at the half.
Rawls ran four yards for a touchdown midway through the third quarter to close out the scoring.
“To go 12-0 and with everything they accomplished, this was the most fun I’ve had in 22 years of coaching,” Presley said. “They were a great bunch of kids and always played for each other.
“They did all the little things you really appreciate and they were such a blast to be around.”
“I don’t know if I have ever been closer to a group of seniors. I’ve coached some of them for 10 years. The amount of leadership and all they put into it, it means something. I’m extremely grateful for everything they have put into the program.
“And thanks to the town of Stroud for all the love and support. It’s an awesome experience to go out on Friday night and have the entire community there and cheering for you.”
The Tigers’ unbeaten season was the school’s first since 2019.