09/19/2026
Late score lifts Straughn over New Brockton, 21-14, on Homecoming
Written by Zack Maio
Photo by Zack Maio
In a back-and-forth battle, Straughn rallied in the fourth quarter to secure a crucial 21-14 win over New Brockton in a thrilling Homecoming region matchup Friday night.
Head coach Clint Humphrey earned his first career win as the Tigers improved to 1-3 overall and 1-2 in 4A Region 2, while the Gamecocks fell to 1-4 and 0-3 in region play.
“I’m really, really proud, and our kids have gotten better every week even though the scores haven’t necessarily reflected that,” Humphrey said. “The big thing for us is taking this win and building on it. I’m super proud of them for playing their butts off. We changed the offense the last two weeks and are moving in the right direction. We just have to keep getting better.”
New Brockton opened the game at its own 31-yard line but quickly went three-and-out. Straughn took over following the punt and began its first possession at the 34-yard line. Landon Cross picked up six yards on a pair of carries before Eli Grissett converted a fourth down with a 36-yard run to the New Brockton 23-yard line. Two plays later, the Tigers struck first when quarterback Tate Watson scored on a 20-yard touchdown run. The PAT was no good as Straughn took a 6-0 lead with 7:37 remaining in the first quarter.
The Gamecocks began their next drive at their own 30-yard line and faced a third-and-long. An unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave New Brockton an automatic first down, and Wesley Creel followed with a 14-yard pass to James Hinson at the Straughn 42-yard line. Grissett and Ace Carter then forced a fumble that Konner Golden recovered.
Watson rushed for eight yards to midfield, and Cross followed with a 4-yard run for a first down. Watson converted a third down with a 3-yard run before a holding penalty moved the Tigers back to the 18-yard line. Two incomplete passes ended the first quarter, and Straughn missed a field-goal attempt on the opening play of the second.
New Brockton had an incomplete pass before Creel connected with Shakir Middleton for eight yards. Conner Leuci then picked up a first down with a 3-yard run before breaking loose for a 22-yard gain to the Straughn 47-yard line. Parker Johnson ended the drive with an interception that was aided by a personal foul face mask penalty.
Starting at its own 28-yard line, Straughn got a 6-yard run from Kason Cobb. Watson then found a crease and raced 66 yards for a touchdown. Aidan Joyner added the PAT and extended the Tigers’ lead to 13-0 with 9:08 to go in the first half.
New Brockton began its next possession at its own 28-yard line with Leuci picking up first downs on runs of 10 and nine yards. Creel converted another fourth down with an 11-yard pass to Middleton before finding Hinson for another 11-yard gain. The Gamecocks faced a fourth-and-short but were pushed back by a false-start penalty. Creel then connected with Leuci for 9 yards to the Straughn 5-yard line. The Tigers’ defense preserved the shutout when Ade Walker recovered a fumble.
Straughn was unable to generate another scoring opportunity and was forced to punt as the first half came to an end.
Carter returned the second-half kickoff to the 27-yard line. Grissett picked up a first down with a 13-yard run, and three plays later, Daniel Worley converted fourth down with a 4-yard run across midfield to the New Brockton 48-yard line. After a holding penalty, the Gamecocks forced a turnover on downs.
New Brockton quickly moved into Straughn territory as Leuci broke loose for a 16-yard run to the Tigers’ 45-yard line. Following an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and an incomplete pass, Leuci finished the drive with a 27-yard touchdown run. David Soto added the PAT and trimmed Straughn’s lead to 13-7 with 6:09 left in the third.
The Tigers leaned heavily on Watson’s legs on their next possession, but New Brockton’s defense came up with another stand and forced a turnover on downs at the Gamecocks’ 47-yard line. Leuci and Cayden Wallace each had 10-yard carries for first downs as New Brockton continued to move the ball at the end of the third.
The Gamecocks grabbed their first lead when Creel connected with Kylen Radcliffe for a 21-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter. Soto’s PAT put New Brockton ahead 14-13 with 11:53 remaining.
Straughn responded with a methodical drive beginning at its own 25-yard line. Cobb broke loose for a 17-yard run, and Watson followed with a 7-yard gain to move the chains at the New Brockton 47-yard line. Watson then found Carter for two first-down receptions before a pair of penalties moved the Tigers back to the 46-yard line. New Brockton’s defense held once again and forced a turnover on downs.
The Gamecocks were unable to get into an offensive rhythm before a bad snap on a punt attempt sent the ball all the way back to their own 7-yard line.
An offsides penalty moved the ball to the 4-yard line, and Straughn capitalized on the opportunity. Watson called his own number and powered into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run. Grissett stretched the ball across the goal line on the two-point attempt and gave the Tigers a 21-14 lead with 3:12 to go.
New Brockton took over with good field position at its own 40-yard line but could not move the ball. Terry Rodgers came up with a huge interception that sealed the victory for Straughn.
The Tigers will step out of region play next week when they travel to Leroy (3-2) for a first-time matchup on Friday, Sept. 25.
“Their head coach Chan Lowe is a good friend of mine and does an unbelievable job with them. They are a little bit smaller than us but are a tremendous program we’re excited to go play. Our kids are going to be beat up on Monday, so trying to get them back for a good Tuesday practice is all I’m really focused on right now,” Humphrey said.
