Two dominant backs in Julian Baker and Tre Captain are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Miami Trace Panthers will take on the Hillsboro Indians at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
On Friday, Miami Trace humbled Washington with a 48-15 victory. The Panthers haven't had any issues with the Blue Lions recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.
Miami Trace relied on the efforts of Baron Phipps, who threw for 134 yards and a pair of TDs on only nine passes, and Cooper Enochs, who rushed for 52 yards and one touchdown. Enochs was even better on defense, forcing one fumble and making three total tackles (2.0 for loss) in addition to snagging an interception which he returned one-yard for a touchdown.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Miami Trace was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 325 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 183 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Miami Trace's defense stepped up as well, laying out Sam Pfeifer three times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Jackson Black, Tyler Stevens, and Gage Henry, who each picked up one sack apiece. Enochs got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Hillsboro got their first taste of in-conference action on Friday and they started things off strong. They pulled ahead with a 35-34 photo finish over McClain.
The victory got Hillsboro back to even at 5-5. As for Miami Trace, their record is now 9-1.
Everything came up roses for Miami Trace against Hillsboro when the teams last played on October 3rd, as the team secured a 49-6 win. In that matchup, the Panthers amassed a halftime lead of 28-6, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.
