Two dominant backs in Michael Lujan and Drake Davis are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Buena Colts will host the Mountain View Mountain Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Buena's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points in their last four contests.
On Friday, Buena didn't have too much breathing room in their matchup against Ironwood Ridge, but they still walked away with a 38-32 win. The Colts haven't had any issues with the Nighthawks recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Buena's defensive line made their presence known, laying out Maximus Harder 3.5 times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Xavier Carr, Zachary Barrett, and Trenton Williams, who each picked up one sack apiece. Cooper Kraus was another major factor on D, making 13 total tackles (3.0 for loss) and defending one pass in addition to snagging an interception.
Special teams was a major factor in the game for Buena, racking up 13 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Ricardo Brooks, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Mountain View never let their opponents score on Thursday. They took their game with ease, bagging a 28-0 win over Sunnyside. The Mountain Lions might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won five contests by 21 points or more this season.
Buena better keep an eye on Ion Brin. He was instrumental in Mountain View's win, rushing for 91 yards and one TD on only six carries, while also throwing for 44 yards and one touchdown. The bulk of those rushing yards came from one huge play: a run that gained an incredible 93 yards. Devin Loya was in the mix too, providing Mountain View with one score.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Mountain View proved: they limited Sunnyside to a paltry 3.3 yards per carry. While three picked up at least seven total tackles, Caden Rudy stood above the rest. He picked up two sacks, made seven total tackles (3.0 for loss), and defended one pass in addition to snagging an interception. Mountain View's run defense has been on the up-and-up: they allowed 4.81 yards per carry earlier this season, but they've only allowed 6.9 on average over their last five games.
Buena's record now sits at 7-3. As for Mountain View, their record is now 6-4.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Buena has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 237.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Mountain View struggles in that department as they've been averaging 223.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Buena was able to grind out a solid victory over Mountain View when the teams last played back in October of 2022, winning 47-35. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Mountain Lions' Steven Mene-Bie, who rushed for 163 yards and three TDs. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Colts to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
