Two dominant backs in Nathan Axmann and Connor Sams are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Waverly Vikings will face off against the Gretna East Griffins at 7:15 p.m. on Monday. Both teams are coming into the contest red-hot, with Waverly sitting on 12 straight victories and Gretna East on ten.
Waverly is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They blew past Bennington 38-18. The Vikings might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven games by 20 points or more this season.
Brockston Teply looked great while leading his team to the win, throwing for 130 yards and three touchdowns.
Waverly's run defense was locked in: Bennington could only muster 2.6 yards per carry. The Vikings' ground attack was stronger, having averaged 4.6.
Waverly didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Gavin McMillan and Zach McElhose.
Meanwhile, Gretna East faced Gretna in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Griffins were the clear victors by a 55-34 margin over the Dragons. The Griffins are also no stranger to big wins: their blowout was the eighth matchup they've won by 20+ points this season.
Waverly better keep an eye on Chase Grow. He was instrumental in Gretna East's win, rushing for 184 yards and a pair of scores on only 12 carries, while also throwing for 124 yards and two TDs. Those 184 rushing yards gave Grow a new career-high. Cade Thompson made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.
Waverly's win bumped their record up to 12-0. As for Gretna East, their victory bumped their record up to 11-1.
Monday's contest might be decided on the ground. Waverly has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 176.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Gretna East struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 258.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Monday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Waverly against Gretna East in their previous matchup back in October of 2023, as the team secured a 46-6 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Vikings since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
