Grand Junction hasn't had much luck against Fruita Monument recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Grand Junction Tigers will square off against the Fruita Monument Wildcats at 7:00 p.m. One thing working in Grand Junction's favor is that they have posted at least 31 points every time they've taken the field this season.
Grand Junction's defense heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Denver North 49-0 on the road. Given the Tigers' advantage in MaxPreps' Colorado football rankings (they are ranked 50th, while the Vikings are ranked 145th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Grand Junction's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Will Applegate, who threw for 76 yards and two touchdowns on only seven passes, and also punched in a touchdown on the ground. Another back making a difference was Mathias Martinez, who rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Grand Junction wouldn't let Denver North keep a hold of the ball as they managed to force three fumbles. It was truly a group effort as Mason Langland, Alex Martinez, and A.J. Schlachter picked up one apiece. Langland is also on a roll when it comes to total tackles, as he's now made five or more in the last three games he's played dating back to last season. Aiden Boss was another major factor on D, making six total tackles and snagging an interception which he returned for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Fruita Monument's offense. They were outmatched by Chaparral on the road and fell 30-0. Having soared to a lofty 37 points in the game before, the Wildcats' shutout was a dramatic turnaround.
Grand Junction's victory ended a five-game drought on the road dating back to last season and puts them at 3-0. As for Fruita Monument, they now have a losing record at 1-2.
Friday's contest might be decided in the trenches. Grand Junction has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 216.7 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Fruita Monument struggles in that department as they've been averaging 159.3. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Grand Junction was taken down by Fruita Monument 41-6 when the teams last played back in October of 2023. Thankfully for Grand Junction, Amari Wilson (who rushed for 125 yards and three touchdowns) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
