Football Preview: Gila Ridge Hawks vs. Cibola Raiders
The Gila Ridge Hawks will stay at home for another week and welcome the Cibola Raiders at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: both posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Last Friday, Gila Ridge was fully in charge, breezing past Sierra Linda 44-7 at home.
Gila Ridge found their leader in underclassman Kanai Hongo, who rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on only ten carries, and also threw for 21 yards and a touchdown. Steven Navas was in the mix too, providing Gila Ridge with two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Cibola had to endure a five-game losing streak dating back to last season, but that streak is no more. They walked away with a 49-38 win over West Point on Friday. The Raiders' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Cibola got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Ivan Barron Jr out in front who picked up 110 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Barron Jr didn't just play on offense: he also defended a pass and snagged an interception. Another signal caller making a difference was Carter Rutledge, who threw for 205 yards and four touchdowns.
Gila Ridge's win ended a six-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 2-3. As for Cibola, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-4.
Everything came up roses for Gila Ridge against Cibola in their previous matchup back in September of 2023, as the team secured a 56-26 win. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Cibola's Messiah Mais, who rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns on only ten carries. Now that he's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Gila Ridge still be able to contain Mais? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
