Football Preview: Maize Eagles vs. South Cougars
Maize is 9-0 against South since September of 2016, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Maize Eagles will look to defend their home field against the South Cougars at 7:00 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
South is hoping to do what Valley Center couldn't on Friday: put an end to Maize's winning streak, which now stands at three games. Maize blew past Valley Center 37-7 at home. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won three matches by 25 points or more so far this season.
Brayden Myovela was his usual excellent self, throwing for 166 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 78 yards. Shannon Jones was another key player, rushing for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
He was just one part of a punishing run game: Maize was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 238 rushing yards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 71.5 rushing yards per game earlier this season, but in their last three games they've averaged 314.7.
Maize didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Ty Willits, Hunter Jennings, and Brodie Jep Jarvis picked up one apiece. Jep Jarvis is also on a roll when it comes to defended passes, as he's now defended two or more in the last three games he's played dating back to last season.
Meanwhile, South had to endure a 15-game losing streak dating back to last season, but that streak is no more. They enjoyed a cozy 41-23 win over Haysville Campus on Friday. The Cougars' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
A big part of South's victory came down to the chemistry between Landon Putman and his top target Ja?Brien Curtis. Putman threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes while Curtis picked up 56 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Maize's win bumped their record up to 3-4. As for South, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-6.
Friday's contest might be decided in the trenches. Maize has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 175.7 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for South, though, as they've been averaging only 53.7. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Everything came up roses for Maize against South when the teams last played back in September of 2023, as the team secured a 45-13 win. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was South's Carson Power, who rushed for 122 yards and a touchdown. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for Maize to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
