Football Game Preview: Marlboro Mustangs vs. Howell Rebels

The Marlboro Mustangs will take on the Howell Rebels at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Marlboro is coming into the contest on a three-game losing streak.

On Friday, Marlboro was within striking distance but couldn't close the gap as they fell 20-14 to Middletown South.

Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Howell, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Friday. They snuck past Freehold Township with a 24-20 win on Friday. The Rebels' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.

Howell's win came from a few key players Marlboro will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Connor Acker, who threw for 126 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 71.4% of his passes. Chris LaForge made the highlight reel by snagging an interception and taking it all the way to the house.

One reason for the win was Howell's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for 5.5 sacks. Ivan Padilla was especially locked on to Freehold Township's QB and sacked him four times. LaForge got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.

Marlboro now has a losing record of 2-3. As for Howell, the victory snapped their losing streak at three games and leaves them with a 2-3 record.

Marlboro beat Howell 17-7 in their previous matchup back in September of 2023. Will the Mustangs repeat their success, or do the Rebels have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.