The Hooks Hornets will challenge the Lone Oak Buffaloes at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Hooks will be strutting in after a victory while Lone Oak will be coming in after a defeat.
Lone Oak will be up against a hot Hooks team: the squad just extended their winning streak to three. The Hornets simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat De Kalb 49-22. The matchup was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 35-6.
Ripken Birdwell continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, rushing for 170 yards and one touchdown on only 11 carries, while also throwing for 148 yards and one TD. His longest rush was for an impressive 65 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Hooks was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 335 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 272 rushing yards in five consecutive contests.
Another reason for the win was Hooks' imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Trenton Haynes, Camron Fields, and Tyler Connell, who each picked up one sack apiece. Hooks received some extra help from Jasper Crain, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Lone Oak played a tough game on Friday in which they were outscored in every quarter. They were outmatched by Edgewood and fell 59-14. While losing is never fun, the Buffaloes can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 728th, while the Bulldogs are ranked 269th).
Despite the loss, Lone Oak saw an underclassman step up: freshman Colt Bowman rushed for 154 yards and one score while picking up 8.6 yards per carry, and also threw for six yards and one TD. Bowman didn't just play on offense: he also picked up 0.5 sacks and made two total tackles (1.0 for loss). Alex McCallum helped out on the ground, rushing for 100 yards.
Lone Oak's defeat dropped their record down to 7-3. As for Hooks, their record now sits at an identical 7-3.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Hooks has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 254.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Lone Oak struggles in that department as they've been averaging 200.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Hooks strolled past Lone Oak in their previous matchup back in November of 2016 by a score of 41-26. Do the Hornets have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Buffaloes turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
