The Washington Union Panthers will square off against the Justin Garza Guardians at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
It was a proper cat-fight when Washington Union challenged Kerman on Friday. The Panthers enjoyed a cozy 30-13 win over the Lions.
Jareal Albert
| 10/31/25 @ Kerman | 3 |
| 10/17/25 vs Reedley | 1 |
| 10/10/25 vs Exeter | 1 |
| 09/19/25 vs Dinuba | 1 |
| 08/29/25 vs Lemoore | 3 |
Jareal Albert was his usual excellent self, rushing for 184 yards and three TDs while picking up 8.4 yards per carry. That's the most rushing touchdowns he has posted since back in August.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Washington Union proved: they limited Kerman to a paltry 2.6 yards per carry. While one picked up at least six total tackles, Albert stood above the rest. He rushed for 184 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 8.4 yards per carry. Washington Union didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 6.8.
Washington Union's defense didn't let Adrian Torres, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for four sacks. The heavy lifting was done by David Salcedo and Jeremiah Foster, who racked up all four sacks between them. Washington Union received some extra help from Paul Holland IV, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Justin Garza, who bounced back after a loss on the road two weeks ago. They narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past Madera 16-14. The 16-point effort marked the Guardians' lowest-scoring game of the season, but in the end it didn't matter.
Justin Garza's win came from a few key players Washington Union will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Samir Mohammed, who rushed for 104 yards and four scores on only seven carries. He also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making four total tackles (1.0 for loss) and defending two passes. Bohden Smith was another key player, throwing for 187 yards and three TDs on only 12 passes.
Washington Union is on a roll lately: they've won three of their last four matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 7-3 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 8.5 points on average over those games. As for Justin Garza, their record is now 6-4.
Washington Union didn't have too much breathing room in their contest against Justin Garza in their previous matchup back in September, but they still walked away with a 29-25 victory. Do the Panthers have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Guardians turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
