Stroud 22
Chandler 14
Sept. 3, 2009

Rivalries are a storied part of Oklahoma football, from the little league fields to the biggest of the big. Everyone knows how raucous this state gets come Bedlam time.
Lesser known, perhaps — but not of less significance — are the untold droves of high school rivals dotting the Sooner State. There are a handful right here in the Tri-County area. Just look around.

There’s Seminole-Tecumseh, McLoud-Tecumseh and Meeker-Prague. There’s Chandler-Prague, and there’s what has been dubbed the annual Lincoln County Shootout — Chandler versus Stroud.

Traditionally the first game of the season for both squads, Chandler held a decade-long dominance of the series until Sept. 3, 2009. Looking poised to carry on the trend, the Lions put Stroud’s Tigers into a 14-0 rut in the second quarter.

The Tigers made it 14-6 before halftime, and ultimately came out with a 22-14 win to end the curse of 10-plus years. And that was just the beginning as Stroud went on to a 10-0 regular season and a Class A state runner-up title.

Ed Blochowiak

Stroud quarterback Andrew Miller fakes a handoff during the Tigers' Sept. 3, 2009, win at Chandler.

Stroud came back and defeated Chandler a second time in 2010.

“I’ve been doing this for 14 years, and I’ve never been prouder of a team than I am right now,” Stroud head coach Chris Elerick said after the 2009 season-opening triumph. “I’m not just happy for our kids. I’m happy for our town and our school.”

The first quarter of the 2009 shootout was scoreless. Chandler quarterback Brandon Cummings scored on a 22-yard second-quarter trot, and the Lions went up 12-0 when Barry Parks recovered and returned a fumble on Stroud’s ensuing possession. A successful PAT throw from Cummings to Casey Barrier made it 14-0 with 7:59 remaining in the first half.

Cue the Tigers.

With 4:48 remaining in the second quarter, Stroud quarterback Andrew Miller hooked up with Austin Billingslea for an 8-yard score. The Tigers tied it at 14 in the third quarter when Jeremee Knipp capped an eight-play drive with a 3-yard rushing score, and Miller found Juliano Barsin in the corner for the two-point conversion.
Cody Pritchard ran in from 2 yards out later in the third, and Miller’s PAT toss to Levi Killman was a success.

The scoring ended there.

Ed Blochowiak

Stroud running back Cody Pritchard, left, tries to escape Chandler's Kyle Hardaway during Stroud's 22-14 win Sept. 3, 2009. It was the first time Stroud defeated Chandler in 10 years.

“We had them down 14-0, and we let the momentum slip away,” Chandler head coach Neal Bacon said following the contest. “We never got that momentum back.”
Miller ended the night with 144 yards on 21 passes, and the Tigers compiled 182 rushing yards and 21 total first downs. Pritchard rushed for more than 120 yards, including a long run of 30.

Chandler came away with 69 rushing yards and four first downs, and Cummings threw for 35 yards on 10 completions. He gave up on the only interception of the game.