The Girard Indians are taking a road trip to face off against the Hubbard Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Girard is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.
Girard proved they can win big last Friday (they won by 21) and on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They slipped by Poland Seminary 29-28. Those 29 points were actually the fewest the Indians have put up all season, but given the result they're probably not too concerned.
AJ Pearson produced another solid effort rushing for 140 yards and three scores, while also throwing for 201 yards on 14 of 22 attempts. Girard's leading receiver Mario Lipinski was Pearson's top target yet again, picking up 58 receiving yards, while also rushing for 65 yards and one TD.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Girard was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 213 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 150 rushing yards in six consecutive matchups.
The home team had won the previous three meetings between Hubbard and Lakeview, and Hubbard kept the tradition alive. The Eagles claimed a resounding 42-0 victory over the Bulldogs. Considering the Eagles have won six games by more than 22 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Hubbard's win came from a few key players Girard will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Braydon Songer, who threw for 308 yards and a pair of touchdowns while completing 84.4% of his passes, and also rushed for 30 yards and one score. He also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making seven total tackles and defending one pass. Michael Hazimihalis also helped with three TDs in total.
Hubbard didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Rome Odem and Nolan Bentley.
Girard's record is now 8-0. As for Hubbard, their record now sits at 7-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Girard has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 241.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hubbard struggles in that department as they've been averaging 183.5 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Girard against Hubbard in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 45-6 win. In that game, the Indians amassed a halftime lead of 38-0, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.
