Football Preview: Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson Mustangs vs. Three Forks/Willow Creek Wolves
Two dominant signal callers in Stockton Oxarart and Kanon Reichman are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson Mustangs have the luxury of staying home for another week and will welcome the Three Forks/Willow Creek Wolves at 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They took their match with ease, bagging a 45-8 victory over Thompson Falls. Given the Mustangs' advantage in MaxPreps' Montana football rankings (they are ranked tenth, while the Blue Hawks are ranked 41st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson had a senior duo take command as Oxarart threw for 175 yards and three touchdowns while completing 85.7% of his passes and Blaine Downing rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries. That's the most rushing yards Downing has posted since back in August. Dawson Hammond was in the mix too, providing Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson with two touchdowns.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 269 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Thompson Falls only rushed for 30.
Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson wouldn't let Thompson Falls keep a hold of the ball as they managed to force two fumbles. Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson can thank Laytin Erickson and Downing for forcing both of them. That high mark didn't come from nowhere: Downing posted at least 105 rushing yards in the third games prior.
Meanwhile, everything came up roses for Three Forks/Willow Creek against Huntley Project on Friday as the squad secured a 43-6 win. The victory made it back-to-back wins for the Wolves.
Reichman was his usual excellent self, rushing for 165 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 8.7 yards per carry, and also throwing for 167 yards and two touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes. He really tore up the turf during one magnificent 71-yard run. Sawyer Andersen was another key player, gaining 137 total yards and two touchdowns.
Three Forks/Willow Creek didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Gavin Etchison, Andersen, and Reichman picked up one apiece.
Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson pushed their record up to 10-0 with the victory, which was their fifth straight at home. They've dominated over that stretch too, winning by an average of 28.4 points. As for Three Forks/Willow Creek, their record is now 7-3.
Friday's contest might be decided in the on the ground. Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 151.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Three Forks/Willow Creek struggles in that department as they've been averaging 247.8. It's looking like Friday's game might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson lost to Three Forks/Willow Creek at home by a decisive 40-22 margin in their previous meeting back in October of 2023. Thankfully for Malta/Whitewater/Saco/Dodson, Shane Williams (who rushed for 236 yards and two touchdowns while picking up 13.9 yards per carry) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
