Football Game Preview: Tempe Buffaloes vs. Independence Patriots

Two dominant s in Zihyon Walters and Elijah May are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Tempe Buffaloes will face off against the Independence Patriots at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Tempe's defense has only allowed 14.9 points per game this season, so Independence's offense will have their work cut out for them.

Tempe's defense heads into the matchup hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They breezed past Moon Valley to the tune of 40-0. The Buffaloes haven't had any issues with the Rockets recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.

Saul Mendez

Passing Touchdowns

09/05/25 @ Carl Hayden Community	5
10/10/25 vs Moon Valley	4
09/19/25 vs La Joya Community	3
08/29/25 vs Alhambra	3
10/03/25 @ Greenway	1
+ 1 more games

Saul Mendez was nothing short of spectacular: he threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 11.7 yards per attempt, and also punched in two rushing scores. Tempe is undefeated when Mendez posts three or more passing touchdowns, but 0-3 otherwise. 128 of Mendez's passing yards were hauled in by Mark Jackson.

Tempe didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Ethan Thomas and Mark Reed. Thomas has been hot recently, having also posted at least one defended passe the last three times he's played.

Meanwhile, after soaring to 42 points the game before, Independence was a bit more limited in their contest on Friday. They were dealt a 54-7 loss at the hands of Marcos de Niza.

Tempe will have to keep a close watch on Thomas Kpakra and Daniel Rodriguez, a pair of players who had a big impact on Independence's prior game. Kpakra rushed for 92 yards and one TD on only 12 carries, while Rodriguez picked up 109 receiving yards. Kpakra's longest rush was for an impressive 68 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total.

Tempe now has a winning record of 4-3. As for Independence, they dropped their record down to 1-6 with the defeat, which was their third straight on the road.