Two dominant backs in Jaden Simpson and Evan Moreno are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Madisonville Mustangs will be playing at home against the Robinson Rockets at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are strolling into their matchups after big wins in their previous games.
Madisonville was handed a heart-breaking three-point loss in their last game, but they sure didn't let that happen against Giddings on Friday. The Mustangs simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Buffaloes 49-10. That 39 point margin sets a new team best for the Mustangs this season.
Carmelo Gilbert
| 11/07/25 @ Giddings | 106 |
| 09/05/25 @ Navasota | 60 |
| 10/17/25 vs Caldwell | 27 |
| 10/18/24 @ Caldwell | 27 |
| 10/31/25 vs Bellville | 24 |
Madisonville can attribute much of their success to Carmelo Gilbert, who rushed for 106 yards and a pair of TDs on only nine carries, and Tristan Whaley, who picked up 114 receiving yards and one score. Those 106 rushing yards gave Gilbert a new career-high.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Madisonville was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 335 rushing yards. They easily outclassed their opponents in that department as Giddings only rushed for 153.
Madisonville didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Kyus Ford, Kedirck Moffett, and Ely Williams picked up one apiece.
Meanwhile, Robinson got the win against China Spring on Friday by a conclusive 33-7. The contest was pretty much decided by the half, when the score had already reached 26-0.
A big part of Robinson's victory came down to the chemistry between Brice McCurdy and his top target Dylan Medlock. McCurdy threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns while picking up 10.9 yards per attempt while Medlock picked up 177 receiving yards and a pair of TDs. Medlock's receiving production has been exceptional recently as that marked his third straight game with at least 101 receiving yards.
Robinson has been performing incredibly well recently as they've won six of their last seven matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 8-2 record this season. The wins came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 41.9 points over those games. As for Madisonville, their record now sits at 6-4.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Madisonville has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 305.4 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Robinson struggles in that department as they've been averaging 260.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Madisonville was able to grind out a solid victory over Robinson in their previous meeting back in October of 2023, winning 27-14. Will the Mustangs repeat their success, or do the Rockets have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
