Football Preview: Cibola Raiders vs. Gila Ridge Hawks
The Cibola Raiders will venture away from home to face off against the Gila Ridge Hawks at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, the two teams will really light up the scoreboard.
Having struggled with five defeats in a row dating back to last season, Cibola finally turned things around against West Point on Friday. They came out on top against the Dragons by a score of 49-38. The Raiders' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Cibola got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Ivan Barron Jr out in front who picked up 110 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Barron Jr also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, defending a pass and snagged an interception. Carter Rutledge was another key signal caller, throwing for 205 yards and four touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Gila Ridge blew past Sierra Linda, posting a 44-7 win at home.
Kanai Hongo was his usual excellent self, rushing for 77 yards and two touchdowns on only ten carries, while also throwing for 21 yards and a touchdown. Steven Navas also deserves a shout-out for his two touchdowns.
Cibola's victory ended a seven-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 1-4. As for Gila Ridge, their win ended a six-game drought at home dating back to last season and bumped them up to 2-3.
Cibola took a serious blow against Gila Ridge when the teams last played back in September of 2023, falling 56-26. Can Cibola avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
