Elk Grove lost against Downey back in August of 2024, and unfortunately they wound up with the same result on Friday. The Thundering Herd and the Knights were almost perfectly matched up, but the Thundering Herd suffered a 43-42 loss.
Elk Grove's defeat shouldn't obscure the performances of Jayson Williams, who rushed for 143 yards and two TDs while picking up 8.9 yards per carry, and Hudson Hall, who rushed for 120 yards and a pair of scores. Hall was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 58 yards.
Even if they lost, Elk Grove's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Alphonso Moore Jr., Rio Baltazar, and Cohen Turner, who each picked up one sack apiece. Moore Jr. was another major factor on D, picking up a sack, forcing two fumbles, and making five total tackles.
Downey's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Elias Haynes led the charge by picking up 175 receiving yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for 88 yards and one TD. Haynes didn't just play on offense: he also made five total tackles (1.0 for loss) and defended one pass. Owen Sacuskie also helped out as he racked up 102 receiving yards.
Elk Grove's loss dropped their record down to 0-2. As for Downey, the victory got them back to even at 1-1.
Both teams are looking forward to the support of their home crowds in their upcoming games. Elk Grove will host Golden Valley at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. As for Downey, they will face off against Merced at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The two teams might be coming in a bit winded given these two teams combined for 950 yards in their previous games.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
