Football Game Preview: Columbia Wildcats vs. Hobgood Charter Raiders

Columbia hasn't had much luck against Hobgood Charter recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Wildcats will look to defend their home field against the Raiders at 7:00 p.m. Columbia has given up an average of 37 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.

Columbia's last matchup with Bear Grass Charter could've gone either way, but unfortunately the same can't be said for the pair's game on Friday. The Wildcats took a blow against the Bears, falling 38-0. Having soared to a lofty 34 points in the game before, the Wildcats' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.

Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Hobgood Charter). They were the clear victors by a 45-20 margin over Mattamuskeet last Friday. The victory continues a trend for the Raiders in their matchups with the Lakers: they've now won five in a row.

Hobgood Charter's win came from a few key players Columbia will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Will May, who picked up 82 receiving yards and a pair of scores. Another player making a difference was Armanti Alston, who threw for 77 yards and two touchdowns.

The win was their first on the road , bumping their record up to 2-3. As for Columbia, their loss dropped their record down to 1-3.

Columbia came up short against Hobgood Charter in their previous matchup back in October of 2023, falling 42-32. Can the Wildcats avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.