The Branson/Kim Bearcats will face off against the Mountain Valley Wolves at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Branson/Kim is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Sierra Grande just ended the team's three-game winning streak on Saturday. They took a blow against the Panthers, falling 56-18.
Although Branson/Kim took the loss, they still got scores from Blake Olguin, Will Doherty, and Mason Riddle.
While Branson/Kim came up short, they sure didn't make it easy for Sierra Grande: they limited their QB to completion percentage of just 50%. Sadly, that's becoming something of a trend for the Bearcats; they were averaging 60.7%completion percentage earlier this season, but in their last three matchups they've fallen to only 60.7%.
Branson/Kim's defensive line didn't let the opposing QB, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for four sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as four different players picked up one apiece. Olguin got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, after only seven points in their last game, Mountain Valley made sure to put some points up on the board against Primero on Saturday. The Wolves won a contest that couldn't have been any closer, slipping by the Bulldogs 31-30. Considering the Wolves' offense had been struggling lately, the high-scoring outing was a much-needed turnaround.
Mountain Valley's win came from a few key players Branson/Kim will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Tye Salaz, who threw for 116 yards and two TDs, and also rushed for 64 yards on only eight carries. He didn't just play on offense: he also made eight total tackles (1.0 for loss) and defended one pass. Kyngston Taylor was another key player, picking up 47 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Branson/Kim's loss was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 4-2. As for Mountain Valley, the win was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 2-4.
Saturday's matchup might be decided in the trenches. Branson/Kim has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 147.7 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Mountain Valley, though, as they've been averaging only 92.2 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Everything came up roses for Branson/Kim against Mountain Valley when the teams last played back in October of 2023, as the squad secured a 68-19 victory. Do the Bearcats have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Wolves turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
