Stratford's Angel Resendes (81) and Luis Ortega celebrate Resendes' first-quarter touchdown reception Saturday as Cayuga's Malcome Kennedy can only watch during the Class 1A Division II state championship game at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. Stratford won, 24-13.

Much of Stratford's focus in practice last week was to duplicate what fellow District 1-1A counterpart Canadian had done a week earlier.

And that was to bring home another state championship to give that district a sweep of this year's Class 1A playoffs.

Despite trailing at halftime, and facing 1A's offensive player of the year, the Elks' tough-as-nails defense and gritty offense came through for a 24-13 victory over Cayuga on Saturday before more than 5,000 fans at Abilene's Shotwell Stadium. That win gave Stratford the Class 1A Division II state championship.

''We wanted to match what Canadian had done,'' said Elks quarterback Kaleb Horsford after the team's third state title this decade and second in four years. ''In practice during the week we talked a lot about it and what it might mean for our district.''

Horsford was part of the Elks' state championship team in 2005, although not a playing participant. Then a freshman, he was the backup quarterback.

''I watched from the sidelines when we won," Horsford said. "To be part of this one is an awesome feeling. We worked hard beginning in August, and this was always a goal of ours. It's been a long season, but the reward is great.''

Stratford became the first Panhandle-area team since Amarillo High in 1934-36 to win three state titles in the same decade. Its first was in 2000, and its second was in 2005.

It is also the first time two teams from the same 1A district have claimed state titles since 1A split into two divisions.

The Elks took a 12-0 lead in this one before Cayuga had run two plays from scrimmage.

After the opening kickoff, they drove 63 yards in 11 plays to take a 6-0 lead on Horsford's 7-yard pass to Angel Resendes.

Malcome Kennedy fumbled on the Wildcats' first offensive play after a 12-yard gain, and Horsford recovered at the Elks' 47.

Stratford went 53 yards in seven plays with the payoff a 2-yard run by Klinton Keener with 1:53 left in the quarter.

Cayuga's second play from scrimmage resulted in another fumble, after a short gain by Traylon Shead, who entered the game with more than 3,000 yards rushing and 51 touchdowns.

However, the Elks failed to make a first down after starting at the Wildcats 45.

Cayuga got back in it when Shead raced 44 yards for a TD with 5:41 left before halftime.

The Wildcats took the lead when quarterback Broc January threw a 26-yard TD pass to Kennedy five seconds before halftime after Cayuga intercepted Horsford.

Shead had 116 yards rushing in the opening half on 10 carries with gains of 41, 44 and 32 yards to show for it. However, in the second half he didn't have a run for more than 8 yards until the final possession and his team trailing 24-13. He wound up with 163 yards on 20 carries but only 47 on 10 attempts in the second half. And of those second-half yards, 24 were on his final two carries of his team's final possession.

The Elks defense didn't yield a first down on Cayuga's first six possessions of the second half, and that proved to be the difference.

Stratford drove 39 yards in nine plays after a punt for the go-ahead TD in the third quarter. Horsford's 3-yard pass to Manuel Chavoya put them in front 18-13 with 5:04 left in the period.

The final scoring drive covered 39 yards in four plays, again after a Cayuga punt. Keener's 14-yard touchdown run with 8:14 to play was the final score, and Stratford's defense continued to apply the pressure.

''Defensively, we were determined that Shead wasn't going to beat us,'' Elks head coach Eddie Metcalf said. ''He is a great back, and we knew he could be a difference-maker.

''Offensively, we didn't do anything to get us beat. We weren't overwhelming, but that's how we've played all season. Our defense has carried us, and the offense has been good enough to get by.''

The Elks won this one without senior running back Jesse Lopez, who was on the sidelines for most of the game. Injured late in the semifinal win against Albany, Lopez carried only once for no gain late in the third quarter.

In his place, Manuel Chavoya carried 21 times for 137 yards, and Keener added 45 yards on 12 attempts.

''Winning this is just great,'' said Chavoya, who had a hard time holding back the emotion of the moment. ''It was too bad that Jesse wasn't able to play more. He's been such a great player for us this season.''