After each having a week off, the Liberty Ranch Hawks and the Ripon Indians will shake off the rust and duke it out at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Liberty Ranch has ten straight victories, Ripon has four straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Two weeks ago, Liberty Ranch was fully in charge, breezing past Galt 54-16. The Hawks might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won seven games by 27 points or more this season.
Liberty Ranch's win was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Ryan Ogas, who rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown on only six carries, and also threw for 147 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 72.7% of his passes. Ogas didn't just play on offense: he also made three total tackles and defended six passes. Joe Lara was another key rusher, gaining 153 total yards and two touchdowns.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Liberty Ranch proved: they limited Galt to a paltry 3.5 yards per carry. While four picked up at least three total tackles, Ogas stood above the rest. He rushed for 74 yards and one score on only six carries, and also threw for 147 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 72.7% of his passes. Liberty Ranch didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 9.7.
Liberty Ranch's defense didn't let Robert Rubio, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Lara, Eston Tucker, and Kyle Quaresma, who each picked up one sack apiece. Tucker was another major factor on D, picking up a sack and making eight total tackles in addition to snagging an interception.
Meanwhile, Ripon came up short against Hilmar last Friday and fell 33-21.
Liberty Ranch will have to contain Andrew Shaw as he made an impact in Ripon's last game. He rushed for 33 yards and a pair of touchdowns, and also threw for 82 yards and one TD.
Ripon's defeat dropped their record down to 5-5. As for Liberty Ranch, their record is now 10-0.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Liberty Ranch has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 392.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Ripon struggles in that department as they've been averaging 217.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Liberty Ranch against Ripon when the teams last played back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 35-0 win. Do the Hawks have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Indians turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
