Football Game Preview: Austin Panthers vs. Bowie Bears

The Austin Panthers will square off against the Bowie Bears at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this game.

Austin blew Riverside out of the water the last time the pair played, but on Friday Riverside got their revenge. The Panthers fell just short of the Rangers by a score of 27-24. The contest was a 10-10 toss-up at halftime, but the Panthers couldn't quite close it out.

Austin might have lost, but man, Joel Castaneda was a machine: he rushed for 130 yards on only 15 carries.

Meanwhile, Bowie was beaten by Mountain View 55-28 on Friday.

Austin will have to contain Derek Montanez as he made an impact in Bowie's last game. He rushed for 122 yards and one touchdown, and also picked up 37 receiving yards and one score.

Bowie's defeat was their fifth straight at home dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 1-7. As for Austin, their loss dropped their record down to 5-3.

Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Austin has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 363.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Bowie struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 158.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.

Everything came up roses for Austin against Bowie in their previous matchup back in November of 2024, as the squad secured a 41-7 win. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Bears turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.