The Christ Presbyterian Academy Lions avenged their first league loss in five years with a win on Friday.
On Sept. 30, the defending state Class 3A runner-up Lions lost to Region 5-3A foe and undefeated Stratford 7-6 to end their five-year league winning streak.
CPA (6-6) got the final laugh Friday, though, winning another defensive battle against the Spartans 10-7 to advance to the Class 3A quarterfinals.
CPA scored a 39-yard field goal in the first quarter and Stratford answered with a touchdown in the third.
Then, in the fourth quarter, Lions quarterback Ryan Eledge hit Andrew Howard for an 8-yard touchdown pass to give CPA its only touchdown of the game and the 10-7 victory.
Eledge completed 10-of-21 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His main target was Noah Henderson, who caught five passes for 129 yards.
Defensively, the Lions limited the Spartans to just 136 yards of total offense (69 passing, 67 rushing).
They will try to bring that same defensive intensity next week in the quarterfinals. CPA will travel to Goodpasture Christian, where the Cougars will be waiting after beating previously-undefeated Fairview 28-23 on Friday.
The Lions will be looking for revenge for the second time in two weeks. Goodpasture won the teams’ first meeting 38-21 on Oct. 21.
CPA has rattled off three-straight victories since then.
