Football Game Preview: Morse Tigers vs. Santana Sultans + How To Watch

The Morse Tigers will square off against the Santana Sultans at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.

While Morse's win against Canyon Hills wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. In a tight contest that could have gone either way, the Tigers made off with a 37-36 victory over the Rattlers. The Tigers haven't had any issues with the Rattlers recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.

Ethan Esmailian

Passer Rating

10/17/25 @ Clairemont	163.2
10/03/25 vs Kearny	135.4
10/31/25 vs Canyon Hills	134.9
09/12/25 vs West Hills	97.5
09/19/25 @ University City	87.3
+ 1 more games

Morse's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Ethan Esmailian led the charge by throwing for 230 yards and three TDs while picking up 11.0 yards per attempt. Esmailian's passing game has become a key predictor of the Tigers' success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 3-4 otherwise. Morse's leading receiver De'Vell Green was Esmailian's top target yet again, picking up 101 receiving yards and one score.

On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Morse's defensive line and their four sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as four different players picked up one apiece.

Meanwhile, two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only Santana walked away with it. They slipped by the Barons 11-10 on Friday. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest victory the Sultans have posted since September 13, 2024.

Santana now has a winning record of 6-5. As for Morse, their win bumped their record up to 6-4.

Friday's matchup might be decided in the trenches. Morse has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 166.8 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Santana, though, as they've been averaging only 55.5 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more football content.