The Stafford Spartans beat Fort Bend Willowridge 35-7 on Thursday, Oct. 15, improving to 2-0 in District 10-4A Division I play.
The road victory pushed Stafford to 5-2 overall and sole possession of first place in the district, according to MaxPreps schedule data. CW39 first reported the final score as part of its Week 8 Thursday night roundup.
The 28-point margin fit a season-long pattern. Stafford has posted three wins by 28 points or more this year, according to a MaxPreps recap. The Spartans have also won three of their last four road games.
The win extended a turnaround that began in early October. Stafford opened the season with three straight victories: 43-42 at Hitchcock on Aug. 28, 51-7 over Waltrip on Sept. 4 and 29-25 at Bellville on Sept. 11. A two-game losing streak followed. Hamshire-Fannett beat the Spartans 42-14 on Sept. 18, and Silsbee won 49-30 on Sept. 25.
District play changed the trajectory. Stafford shut out Houston Stephen F. Austin 62-0 in the district opener on Friday, Oct. 9, then followed with the Willowridge rout six days later.
The defense set the tone against Austin. Junior defensive end Israel Collins recorded four of the team's seven sacks in that game, while junior cornerback Denim Steed added two interceptions and two passes defended, the Houston Chronicle reported. Junior Aiden Seales also intercepted a pass.
Collins' performance earned him a nomination for Texas high school defensive player of the week from Sports Illustrated, which listed him with six tackles and four sacks.
Through seven games, the Spartans have outscored opponents 264-172. They are riding a two-game winning streak into the back half of the district schedule.
Stafford hosts Harmony School of Innovation at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, in its next district matchup. The Spartans then host Sterling on Oct. 30 before closing the regular season at Northside at 6 p.m. on Nov. 6.
