Football Preview: Avonworth Antelopes vs. Beaver Bobcats
The Avonworth Antelopes will square off against the Beaver Bobcats at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Avonworth is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 29.5 points per game this season.
Avonworth took a loss when they played away from home two weeks ago, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 43-27 win over Greensburg Salem. Given the Antelopes' advantage in MaxPreps' Pennsylvania football rankings (they are ranked 108th, while the Golden Lions are ranked 246th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
This one was won in the trenches and the lion's share of the credit has to go to Dimitri Velisaris and Nico Neal. Velisaris rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 9.0 yards per carry while Neal rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. Those 115 rushing yards gave Neal a new career-high.
Avonworth was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 341 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Beaver entered their tilt with Avonworth with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. Everything went their way against the Antelopes as they made off with a 34-14 victory. Considering the Bobcats have won seven games by more than 19 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Beaver had a senior duo take command as Qualan Cain rushed for 177 yards and a touchdown while picking up 8.0 yards per carry and Amari Jackson gained 110 total yards and three touchdowns. Beaver also got a significant boost from Drey Hall, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 94 yards.
Beaver pushed their record up to 8-2 with the win, which was their sixth straight at home dating back to last season. Those good results were due in large part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 14.2 points per game. As for Avonworth, they have been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven contests, which provided a nice bump to their 8-3 record this season.
Friday's match might be decided in the on the ground. Avonworth has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 169.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Beaver struggles in that department as they've been averaging 270.2. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Avonworth might still be hurting after the 34-14 loss they got from Beaver in their previous meeting two weeks ago. That game was all but decided by halftime, at which point Avonworth was down 20-0.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
