Two dominant backs in Samuel Gonzales and Leo Mendoza are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. After each having a week off, the Southwest SD Raiders and the Hilltop Lancers will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
Southwest SD's offense might be in the hot seat on Friday considering what happened against Kearny last Friday. The contest between the Raiders and the Komets didn't end well, with the Raiders falling 14-0. The Raiders have struggled against the Komets recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive lost matchup.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Hilltop). They blew past Castle Park, posting a 57-6 victory. The Lancers have beaten the Trojans the last six times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Trojans has come to flipping the script.
Hilltop's win came from a few key players Southwest SD will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Alejandro Carranza, who threw for 103 yards and a pair of TDs on perfect 5-for-5 passing. What's more, he racked up 177.1 passer rating, the most he's had since back in October of 2024. Julian Moran got in on the action as well, returning a kick for a touchdown.
Hilltop was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 282 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Hilltop, adding 13 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Moran, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Southwest SD's defeat dropped their record down to 3-3. As for Hilltop, the win also got them back to even at 3-3.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Southwest SD has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 150 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hilltop struggles in that department as they've been averaging 157.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Southwest SD was taken down by Hilltop 32-0 when the teams last played back in October of 2024. Can the Raiders avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
