Football Preview: Gary West Side Cougars vs. Wheeler Bearcats
The Gary West Side Cougars will venture away from home to challenge the Wheeler Bearcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both might be coming in a bit winded given these two teams combined for 825 yards in their previous games.
Gary West Side will roll into the matchup after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any points two weeks ago, then bounced right back against Whiting last Friday. Gary West Side blew past Whiting 54-12 on the road. That 42 point margin sets a new team best for the Cougars this season.
Gary West Side got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Monte Moore Ii out in front who rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries. Moore Ii also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, forcing a fumble and making a tackle. Guiseppe Moore was another key passer, throwing for 140 yards and a touchdown on only ten passes.
Gary West Side's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged three passes before it was all said and done. It was truly a group effort as Aizayah Sanders, Ladarrion Newell, and Newell picked up one apiece.
Meanwhile, Wheeler waltzed into their match on Friday with two straight wins... but they left with three. They enjoyed a cozy 38-20 victory over the Wolves.
Wheeler's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Jayden Ortiz, who rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns. Tyne Vettickal made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
Wheeler wouldn't let Boone Grove keep a hold of the ball as they managed to force two fumbles. Wheeler can thank Vettickal and Conner Welch for forcing both of them.
Gary West Side's victory bumped their record up to 4-1. As for Wheeler, they now have a winning record of 3-2.
Things could have been worse for Gary West Side, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 42-24 loss to Wheeler in their previous matchup back in September of 2023. Can Gary West Side avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
