Two dominant in Kolter Cranson and Erick Thorn are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Branson/Kim Bearcats will head out on the road to face off against the Otis Bulldogs at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both teams come into the match bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
Branson/Kim had already proven themselves in the regular season, and didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Peetz on Saturday and snuck past 39-37. This was one game where the offenses had no trouble playing at a high level.
Branson/Kim's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Cranson, who rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 9.1 yards per carry, and also threw for 86 yards and a touchdown while completing 100% of his passes. Cranson's longest rush was for an incredible 70 yards. Brock Doherty also deserves a shout-out for his two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Otis put the finishing touches on their seventh blowout victory of the season on Saturday. They claimed a resounding 56-14 victory over Primero on the road. Winning may never get old, but Otis sure are getting used to it with their third in a row.
Mitchell Stivers was the offensive standout of the contest as he rushed for 114 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries. Thorn was another key contributor, rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Branson/Kim's win was their sixth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 8-2. Those good results were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 43.8 points per game. As for Otis, their victory bumped their record up to 9-1.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Saturday's game: Branson/Kim has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 289 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Otis struggles in that department as they've been averaging 236.2 per game. It's looking like Saturday's contest might have some serious battles in the trenches. Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
