Girard hasn't had much luck against Harbor Creek recently, but that could start to change on Thursday. The Yellowjackets will be playing in front of their home fans against the Huskies at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the contest bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Girard had to skate by with only a one-point margin when they last took the field, which might have inspired the 21-point drubbing they dealt Warren on Friday. The Yellowjackets put the hurt on the Dragons with a sharp 42-21 victory. That looming 42-21 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Yellowjackets yet this season.
Aidan Arnold was his usual excellent self, rushing for 192 yards and two scores on only 13 carries. He also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making six total tackles and defending two passes in addition to snagging an interception. Ryan St. Julien was another key player, rushing for 89 yards and one touchdown on only six carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Girard was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 314 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Meanwhile, Harbor Creek had already won two in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 21.5 points) and they went ahead and made it three on Friday. They came within six points of losing the streak, but they secured a 20-14 W against the Rockets.
Harbor Creek's win came from a few key players Girard will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Brady Powers, who rushed for 53 yards and one TD, and also picked up 31 receiving yards and one score. He didn't just play on offense: he also forced one fumble, made two total tackles, and defended one pass. Another player making a difference was Gavin Zillman, who rushed for 65 yards.
The win got Harbor Creek back to even at 3-3. As for Girard, their victory bumped their record up to 5-1.
Thursday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Girard has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 226 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Harbor Creek struggles in that department as they've been averaging 226 rushing yards. There's a good chance Thursday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Girard ended up a good deal behind Harbor Creek in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, losing 31-12. Thankfully for the Yellowjackets, Tyshawn Jones (who rushed for 144 yards and a pair of touchdowns while picking up 9.0 yards per carry, and also picked up 38 receiving yards) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
