For the first time this season, Brea Olinda will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. After each having a week off, they and the Westminster Lions will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. One thing working in Brea Olinda's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points in their last three matchups.
Last Friday, Brea Olinda came up short against Trabuco Hills and fell 43-36. The defensive woes were uncharacteristic for the Wildcats, who until this game were averaging 14.2 points allowed.
Despite the defeat, Brea Olinda got top-tier performance from Gavyn Nicholson, who rushed for 133 yards and two TDs while picking up 7.8 yards per carry, and also threw for 53 yards and one touchdown. Nicholson was no stranger to the big play, taking off on a dash that went for 50 yards. Speaking of playmakers, who could forget Jio Kang, who went all the way with a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Don't try to pin the team's loss on the defense: they kept the trenches locked down and allowed a mere 2.8 yards per carry. The team can thank Nick Davis for the heroic effort on defense: he. Brea Olinda didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 6.6.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Westminster, who bounced back after a loss on the road on September 11th. They breezed past Saddleback to the tune of 44-7 last Friday. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Lions considering their two-point performance the contest before.
Westminster found their leader in freshman Beckham Sharp, who threw for 191 yards and three TDs while completing 81.8% of his passes.
Brea Olinda's loss dropped their record down to 3-2. As for Westminster, the win was their first at home , bumping their record up to 2-3.
Friday's matchup might be decided in the trenches. Brea Olinda has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 201.4 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Westminster, though, as they've been averaging an even more impressive 92.4 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Everything came up roses for Brea Olinda against Westminster when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 49-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Wildcats since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
