Ropes is preparing for their first district matchup of the season on Friday. After each having a week off, they and the Tahoka Bulldogs will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 7:00 p.m. Ropes knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 31 points or more in their past three contests -- so hopefully Tahoka likes a good challenge.
Ropes' defense heads into the game hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed last Friday. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 59-0 victory over Forsan. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won four contests by 33 points or more so far this season.
Ryland Kieth had another great game (as he tends to do), rushing for 274 yards and one TD while picking up 13.0 yards per carry, and also picking up 59 receiving yards. He really tore up the turf during one magnificent 74-yard run. Zayden Pittman was another key player, gaining 123 total yards and three touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Ropes was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 371 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 312 rushing yards in three consecutive games.
Jackson Lehnen
| 09/05/25 @ New Home | 5 |
| 09/19/25 @ Olton | 10 |
| 09/12/25 vs Sudan | 13 |
| 08/29/25 vs Hale Center | 15 |
| 09/26/25 vs Forsan | 16 |
Another reason for the win was Ropes' imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for five sacks. Jackson Lehnen was especially locked on to Forsan's QB and sacked him twice. Lehnen also set a new season-high mark in total tackles with 16. Another thorn in Forsan's side was Victor Saenz, who picked up a sack and made 18 total tackles (5.0 for loss).
Meanwhile, Tahoka fell victim to Grape Creek and their airtight defense last Friday. They were dealt a 41-0 loss at the hands of the Eagles. Having soared to a lofty 55 points in the game before, the Bulldogs' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Tahoka's defeat dropped their record down to 3-2. As for Ropes, their win bumped their record up to 4-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Ropes has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 278.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Tahoka struggles in that department as they've been averaging 251.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Ropes barely slipped by Tahoka in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, winning 35-34. Will the Eagles repeat their success, or do the Bulldogs have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
