Football Preview: Gary West Side Cougars vs. Wheeler Bearcats
The Gary West Side Cougars will head out on the road 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 game after a wild two-game stretch: they didn't score any points last Friday, then bounced right back against Whiting on Friday. Gary West Side claimed a resounding 54-12 victory over Whiting on the road. That looming 54-12 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Cougars yet this season.
Gary West Side's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Monte Moore Ii led the charge by rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries. Moore Ii also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, forcing a fumble and making a tackle. Another passer making a difference was Guiseppe Moore, who threw 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 had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 24.5 points) and they went ahead and made it three on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 38-20 win over the Wolves.
Wheeler got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Jayden Ortiz out in front 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 win 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 when the teams last played 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
