Two dominant signal callers in Liam Finan and Wyatt Gavit are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. Blue Ridge will take on Jacksboro at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Blue Ridge is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 59-6 victory over Blooming Grove. Given the Tigers' advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 503rd, while the Lions are ranked 1065th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Blue Ridge got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Jacob Walker out in front who rushed for 68 yards and a pair of scores on only five carries, and also caught one touchdown. Keven Olvera made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Blue Ridge was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 242 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 150 rushing yards in eight consecutive games.
Special teams also played a big role in the game for Blue Ridge, adding 11 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Caleb Gaddis, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Jacksboro came tearing into Thursday's contest with six straight wins (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 36 points), and they left with even more momentum. They blew past the Rattlers 41-20.
Jacksboro's win came from a few key players Blue Ridge will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Lochlan Pardue, who rushed for 100 yards and two TDs. He also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making four total tackles and defending two passes. Isaac Wesson was another key player, picking up 62 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Jacksboro didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Kris Wicks and Kase Dennis.
Blue Ridge's record is now 6-4. As for Jacksboro, their record now sits at 7-4.
The upcoming matchup will be a clash of competing strengths. Blue Ridge has deployed a run-first offense that has averaged 197.7 rushing yards a game. Meanwhile, Jacksboro has preferred to attack from the air: they average 285.4 passing yards per game. So which strategy will prevail on Friday? There's only one way to find out.
