Football Game Preview: McNary Celtics vs. Aloha Warriors

The McNary Celtics will face off against the Aloha Warriors at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. McNary has given up an average of 29 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

McNary is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Wilsonville on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Celtics took a blow against the Wildcats, falling 42-14. The Celtics were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 35-0.

Meanwhile, Aloha had to endure a five-game losing streak, but that streak is no more. They breezed past McKay to the tune of 48-0 on Saturday. The high-scoring effort was just what the Warriors needed considering they were shut out in their previous matchup.

Aloha's win came from a few key players McNary will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Elijah Strickling, who rushed for 126 yards and a pair of TDs on only nine carries. He also punched in two rushing touchdowns, which is notable because Aloha is 2-1 when he posts at least two rushing touchdowns, but 1-4 otherwise. Aryel Garcia-Meraz was another key player, rushing for 76 yards and three scores on only nine carries.

Aloha was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 290 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.

Aloha didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Elijah Sewell and Mateo Salcedo Hernandez.

McNary has traveled a rocky road recently, having lost four of their last five games. That's put a noticeable dent in their 2-6 record this season. As for Aloha, their win was their first in the league, bumping their league record up to 1-4 and their overall record up to 3-5.