The McFarland Cougars are headed away from home for the first time to challenge the Granite Hills Grizzlies at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
McFarland's defense heads into the match hoping to repeat the dominance they displayed on Friday. They enjoyed a cozy 18-0 victory over Tranquillity. The win made it back-to-back victories for the Cougars.
McFarland's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Raul Cabanillas led the charge by rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown on only nine carries. Cabanillas didn't just play on offense: he also picked up a sack and made six total tackles (1.0 for loss). Another rusher making a difference was Sebastian San Juan Concha, who rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown on only 13 carries.
San Juan Concha wasn't the only one working in the rushing yards department: McFarland was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 331 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since was before the start of last season.
McFarland's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged three passes before it was all said and done. It was truly a group effort as Richard Samaniego, Julian Barajas, and Fernando Santiago Chincoya picked up one apiece. Samaniego also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making two total tackles and defending three passes in addition to snagging an interception.
Meanwhile, Granite Hills gave their fans exactly what they wanted out of a home opener on Friday. They blew past Parlier, posting a 47-0 win at home. The victory was some much needed relief for the Grizzlies as it spelled an end to their four-game losing streak dating back to last season.
McFarland strolled past Granite Hills in their previous meeting back in August of 2023 by a score of 19-0. The rematch might be a little tougher for McFarland 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
