Pioneer has gone 8-2 against Roma recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Friday. The Diamondbacks will look to defend their home field against the Gladiators at 7:00 p.m. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Thursday, Pioneer didn't have too much trouble with Alice as they won 31-14.
Malakai Galindo
| 10/09/25 @ Alice | 151.1 |
| 10/02/25 vs Veterans Memorial | 71.5 |
| 09/25/25 @ Porter | 113.5 |
| 09/19/25 @ Hanna | 16.7 |
| 09/12/25 vs Edinburg North | 92.1 |
| + 9 more games |
A big part of Pioneer's victory came down to the chemistry between Malakai Galindo and his top target William Goodloe. Galindo threw for 109 yards and two TDs while completing 81.8% of his passes while Goodloe gained 123 total yards and two touchdowns. What's more, Galindo racked up 151.1 passer rating, the most he's had since back in September of 2024.
Meanwhile, Roma beat Port Isabel 14-7 last Friday. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Gladiators.
Pioneer better keep an eye on Jorge Tamayo. He was instrumental in Roma's win, rushing for 133 yards and one touchdown on only 15 carries.
Roma was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 297 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Port Isabel only rushed for 157.
Roma's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB three times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Alejandro Ramirez, Raul Ramirez, and Omar Beltran, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Pioneer's win bumped their record up to 5-2. As for Roma, their victory bumped their record up to 4-2.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Pioneer has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 250.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Roma struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 350.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything went Pioneer's way against Roma when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as Pioneer made off with a 35-14 win. Do the Diamondbacks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Gladiators turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
