Two dominant backs in Ryland Kieth and Coy Miller are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Ropes Eagles will challenge the Farwell Steers at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Ropes is coming into the contest hot, having won their last nine games.
Ropes is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They blew past McCamey 76-6. That 70 point margin sets a new team best for the Eagles this season.
Ropes' success was spearheaded by the efforts of Zayden Pittman, who gained 78 total yards and three touchdowns, and Jaivyth Cruz, who rushed for 116 yards and one touchdown on only nine carries. Pittman also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, forcing one fumble and making one tackle.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Ropes was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 244 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 170 rushing yards in nine consecutive games.
Special teams also deserves some recognition, posting 26 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Kolter Dockery, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown. Another bright spot was a punt return touchdown from Pittman.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Farwell). They took down Sudan 56-42 on Friday. The Steers haven't had any issues with the Hornets recently, as the game was their fourth consecutive win against them.
Farwell found their leader in freshman Kolson Allen, who threw for 271 yards and four TDs on only 19 passes, and also rushed for 99 yards and a pair of scores on only seven carries. Those four passing touchdowns set a new season-high mark for Allen. Andrae Pullen was in the mix as well, providing Farwell with two touchdowns.
Farwell didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Tak Miller. Franklin Valle was another major factor on D, forcing one fumble and making 14 total tackles.
Ropes' record now sits at 10-1. As for Farwell, their record is now 7-3-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Ropes has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 268.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Farwell struggles in that department as they've been averaging 185.3 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Ropes against Farwell when the teams last played back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 28-0 victory. Will the Eagles repeat their success, or do the Steers have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
