Football Game Preview: Gila Ridge Hawks vs. Mica Mountain Thunderbolts + How To Watch

Gila Ridge has won seven straight games at home, while Mica Mountain has won seven straight on the road, but those streaks won't matter much on Friday. The Hawks will welcome the Thunderbolts at 7:00 p.m. The two teams have allowed few points on average (Gila Ridge 11, Mica Mountain 7) so any points scored will be well earned.

Gila Ridge is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They blew past Coconino, posting a 27-0 victory. The result was nothing new for the Hawks, who have now won six games by 27 points or more so far this season.

Gila Ridge's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Isaac Soliz, who threw for 255 yards and two TDs on only 18 passes. The team also got some help courtesy of Gabriel Cota, who picked up 99 receiving yards and one touchdown.

Gila Ridge didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Coconino to a completion percentage of just 40%. The Hawks weren't nearly as limited: they posted one of 63.2%.

Meanwhile, Mica Mountain beat Snowflake 21-14 on Friday. The Thunderbolts pushed the score to 21-0 by the end of the third, a deficit the Lobos cut but never quite recovered from.

Mica Mountain's win came from a few key players Gila Ridge will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jaidyn Crist, who threw for 190 yards and a pair of TDs on only 17 passes. That's the most passing yards he has posted since back in August.

Mica Mountain's victory bumped their record up to 10-2. As for Gila Ridge, their win bumped their record up to 11-1.

Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Gila Ridge has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 177.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Mica Mountain struggles in that department as they've been averaging 157.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more football content.