The Idalia Wolves will challenge the Otis Bulldogs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Idalia's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points every time they've taken the field this season.
On Thursday, everything came up roses for Idalia against Genoa-Hugo as the squad secured a 60-6 victory. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Wolves' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado football rankings (they are ranked second, while the Pirates are ranked 50th).
Among those leading the charge was Kolby Morris, who rushed for 62 yards and one TD on only five carries. Speaking of playmakers, who could forget Hunter Drullinger, who went all the way with a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Idalia proved: they limited Genoa-Hugo to a paltry 3.3 yards per carry. The team can thank Jace Morris for the heroic effort on defense: he. Idalia didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 9.8.
Special teams also played a big role in the game for Idalia, adding 12 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Drullinger, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, while it was all tied up 16-16 at halftime, Otis was not quite Stratton's equal in the second half on Friday. They took a 22-16 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Eagles. The game marked the Bulldogs' lowest-scoring matchup so far this season.
Idalia's win was their fourth straight on the road, which pushed their record up to 7-0. The road victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 70.0 points over those games. As for Otis, their loss was their first of the season and makes their record 6-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Idalia has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 266.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Otis struggles in that department as they've been averaging 286.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Idalia came up short against Otis when the teams last played back in October of 2024, falling 33-20. Can the Wolves avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
