Football Game Preview: Rio Grande City Rattlers vs. Rowe Warriors

Rio Grande City is 0-3 against Rowe since October of 2022 but things could change on Thursday. After each having a week off, the two teams will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 7:00 p.m. Rio Grande City has given up an average of 43.2 points per game this season, but Thursday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

While Rio Grande City is heading in to the contest without a victory, things might be looking up considering their last matchup was the closest they've come to getting one. They were two points away from ending the streak, but they lost a 43-41 heartbreaker at the hands of Palmview. On the bright side, the 41- point performance marked the Rattlers' highest-scoring game to date.

Meanwhile, you're bound to get a positive result if you outscore your opponent every quarter and that's exactly how it played out for Rowe last Thursday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that they blew Juarez-Lincoln out of the water with a 49-3 final score. That looming 49-3 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Warriors yet this season.

This one was won in the trenches and the lion's share of the credit has to go to Jose Jimenez and Iban Ramirez. Jimenez rushed for 137 yards and one score on only five carries while Ramirez rushed for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only ten carries. Those 107 rushing yards gave Ramirez a new career-high.

Rowe was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 327 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Rowe's defense and their six sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as six different players picked up one apiece. Hector Andrade got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

The win made it two in a row for Rowe and bumps their season record up to 3-2. The victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 31.5 points over those games. As for Rio Grande City, their loss dropped their record down to 0-5.

Rio Grande City suffered a grim 27-7 defeat to Rowe in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Can the Rattlers avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.