The Bagdad Sultans will challenge the Hayden Lobos at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. The two teams have allowed few points on average (Bagdad 11, Hayden 12.5) so any points scored will be well earned.
Bagdad is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They slipped by Williams 19-18. The victory was just business as usual for the Sultans, who after ten games remain undefeated this season.
The critical scores for Bagdad came from Josiah Kirchoff, Thomas Rodriguez, and Levi Alfred.
One reason for the win was Bagdad's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for 4.5 sacks. Rowdy Hooper was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up 2.5 himself. Bagdad received some extra help from Alfred, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Hayden faced Mogollon in a battle between two of the state's top teams on Friday. The Lobos walked away with a 48-38 win over the Mustangs. The Lobos haven't had any issues with the Mustangs recently, as the game was their sixth consecutive victory against them.
Bagdad better keep an eye on Kino Lorona. He was instrumental in Hayden's win, rushing for 185 yards and three TDs on only 12 carries. Lorona has been hot for a while, having posted two or more rushing touchdowns the last 18 times he's played. Another player making a difference was Tyler Garner, who gained 89 total yards and two touchdowns.
Hayden was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 256 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 256 rushing yards in three consecutive matchups.
Hayden didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. Ryan Garner led the group effort, picking up two of those interceptions all by himself. Mario Hong got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Bagdad's win bumped their record up to 10-0. As for Hayden, their victory bumped their record up to 11-0.
Bagdad might still be hurting after the 56-34 defeat they got from Hayden in their previous meeting back in November of 2024. Can the Sultans avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
