The Paradise Bobcats will head out to square off against the Winters Warriors at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
On Friday, Paradise came up short against Pierce and fell 31-20. The Bobcats haven't had much luck with the Bears recently, as the team has come up short the last four times they've met.
Paradise might have lost, but man, Evan Higgs was a machine: he picked up 115 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also rushed for 49 yards.
Meanwhile, Winters entered their tilt with Willows on Friday with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. Their defense stepped up to hand the Honkers a 57-0 shutout. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Warriors' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 379th, while the Honkers are ranked 957th).
Paradise better keep an eye on Lane Brown. He was instrumental in Winters' win, rushing for 101 yards and two scores, while also throwing for 111 yards and a pair of TDs. The bulk of those rushing yards came from one huge play: a run that gained an incredible 63 yards. Another big playmaker for they was Aidan Baylor, who returned a punt for a touchdown.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Winters, adding 13 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Baylor, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
Winters didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Baylor and Macguire Plitt.
Paradise's loss dropped their record down to 3-5. As for Winters, their win bumped their record up to 7-1.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Paradise has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 151.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Winters struggles in that department as they've been averaging 212.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Paradise took a serious blow against Winters in their previous meeting back in November of 2024, falling 48-0. Can the Bobcats avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
