Football Preview: Island Coast Gators vs. Estero Wildcats
Island Coast has been on the road for three straight, but on Friday they'll finally head home. They will host the Estero Wildcats at 7:30 p.m.
Last Friday, Island Coast came up short against Cypress Lake and fell 34-22. The Gators have struggled against the Panthers recently, as their game last Friday was their fourth consecutive lost matchup.
Despite the loss, Island Coast got top-tier performance from Gervaris Leaphart, who rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, after only nine points in their last matchup, Estero made sure to put some points up on the board against Lemon Bay on Friday. Estero breezed by Lemon Bay at home to the tune of 39-12. Considering the Wildcats have won three contests by more than 20 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
A big part of Estero's victory came down to the chemistry between Maddox Stewart and his top target Kegan Kreuscher. Stewart threw for 363 yards and five touchdowns while completing 75.7% of his passes while Kreuscher picked up 143 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Kreuscher also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making three total tackles and defending a pass.
Island Coast's defeat dropped their record down to 3-5. As for Estero, their win bumped their record up to 3-4.
Friday's game might be decided in the trenches. Island Coast has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 160.6 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Estero, though, as they've been averaging only 96.9. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Island Coast ended up a good deal behind Estero in their previous matchup back in September of 2023, losing 21-6. Will Island Coast have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
