Two dominant backs in Odie Jefferson and Hekili Hernandez are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Monterey Trail Mustangs will host the Pleasant Grove Eagles at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are strolling into their matchups after big wins in their previous games.
Monterey Trail is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They claimed a resounding 62-0 win over Sheldon. With that victory, the Mustangs brought their scoring average up to 31.6 points per game.
Kaden Love had an outrageously good game as he threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns on only 11 passes, and also rushed for 31 yards. Jimmy Jackson was another key player, picking up 100 receiving yards and a pair of TDs.
Monterey Trail didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Brent Minnifield Jr and Robert Hamel. Monterey Trail received some extra help from Ian Guerrero, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Pleasant Grove never let their opponents score last Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Sheldon 64-0. The contest marked the Eagles' most dominant win of the season so far.
Pleasant Grove's win came from a few key players Monterey Trail will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Robert Wainaina, who rushed for 89 yards and three scores. He was no stranger to the big play, taking off on a dash that went for 51 yards. The team also got some help courtesy of Ivan Saeyang, who rushed for 67 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Pleasant Grove was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 355 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 223 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
The victory made it two in a row for Monterey Trail and bumps their season record up to 4-1. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 48.0 points over those games. As for Pleasant Grove, their victory bumped their record up to 4-1.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Monterey Trail has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 270.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Pleasant Grove struggles in that department as they've been averaging 282.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Monterey Trail barely slipped by Pleasant Grove in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, winning 21-20. Do the Mustangs have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Eagles turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
