The Elkhart Elks will face off against the Troup Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. The teams are rolling into the game with opposing streaks: Elkhart has struggled recently with three defeats in a row, while Troup will arrive with five straight victories.
It's never fun to lose, and it's even less fun to lose 62-13, which was the final score in Elkhart's tilt against West Rusk on Friday. While losing is never fun, the Elks can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 971st, while the Raiders are ranked 314th).
Despite their loss, Elkhart saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Javon Smith, who picked up 98 receiving yards and one touchdown, was perhaps the best of all.
Fans were treated to a battle of the Tigers on Friday. Troup blew past Arp, posting a 42-6 win. The result was nothing new for Troup, who have now won three contests by 36 points or more so far this season.
Troup's win came from a few key players Elkhart will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Josh Childress, who threw for 269 yards and four TDs while completing 83.3% of his passes. What's more, he racked up 163.2 passer rating, the most he's had since back in November of 2024. Brett Wells helped Childress out on the ground, rushing for 130 yards and a pair of scores on only 12 carries.
Troup's defense made their presence known, laying out the QB three times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Noble Kendrick, Caden Starkey, and Aiden Thibideaux, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Troup's victory bumped their record up to 5-0. As for Elkhart, their defeat dropped their record down to 1-4.
Elkhart took a serious blow against Troup in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, falling 46-14. Thankfully for the Elks, Bryce Wallum (who rushed for 166 yards and a pair of touchdowns while picking up 8.3 yards per carry, and also threw for 224 yards and three TDs while completing 80% of his passes) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
