The Blanchard Lions will head out to challenge the Ardmore Tigers at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
As a matter of fact, Blanchard put up the most points they have all season on Friday. They breezed past Tecumseh to the tune of 56-21. The win continues a trend for the Lions in their matchups with the Savages: they've now won seven in a row.
Caysen Garcia was nothing short of spectacular: he rushed for 156 yards and four scores while picking up 8.2 yards per carry. Another back making a difference was Brody Sherman, who rushed for 55 yards and three touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Blanchard was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 327 rushing yards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 67.7 rushing yards per game earlier this season, but in their last five contests they've averaged 231.3.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Ardmore took on Madill on Friday. The Tigers claimed a resounding 54-14 victory over the Wildcats. That looming 54-14 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Tigers yet this season.
Ardmore's win came from a few key players Blanchard will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was K'DRIEN MILLER, who threw for 92 yards and a pair of TDs. JAYSHON PAYNE got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Ardmore didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. PAYNE picked up that interception and then proceeded to rub salt in the wound by taking it back the other way for a touchdown. He got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
The win got Ardmore back to even at 3-3. As for Blanchard, the victory also got them back to even at 3-3.
Thursday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Blanchard has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 149.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Ardmore struggles in that department as they've been averaging 240.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Blanchard against Ardmore in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 56-20 win. In that contest, the Lions amassed a halftime lead of 28-6, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Thursday.
