The Winnebago Indians will challenge the Mahpiya Luta Crusaders at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Mahpiya Luta will be up against a hot Winnebago squad: the team just extended their winning streak to eight. The Indians blew past Omaha Nation 55-6 two weeks ago. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Indians' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska football rankings (they are ranked fourth, while the Chiefs are ranked 77th).
Winnebago got their victory on the backs of several key players, but it was Elijah Whitebear out in front who threw for 57 yards and two touchdowns, and also caught one score. Another player making a difference was Melvin Hulit, who rushed for 37 yards and one TD.
On the other side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Winnebago's defense and their three sacks. Ashton Lapointe was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up two himself. Winnebago received some extra help from Raiden Decora, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, it's playoff time, and Mahpiya Luta had no trouble coming through when it counted. They took their contest on Friday with ease, bagging a 50-12 win over Lower Brule. The victory continues a trend for the Crusaders in their matchups with the Sioux: they've now won three in a row.
Winnebago's win bumped their record up to 8-0. As for Mahpiya Luta, their victory bumped their record up to 6-3.
Everything came up roses for Winnebago against Mahpiya Luta when the teams last played back in September, as the team secured a 55-22 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Indians since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
