For the first time this season, Independence will have a chance to prove themselves in a conference matchup. They will take on the Ridgeview Wolf Pack at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Neither of those teams managed to put together many points in their previous contests, so the offenses might be a little more motivated than usual.
Last Friday, Independence came up short against Liberty and fell 17-10. The Falcons have now taken an 'L' in back-to-back games.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Rickey Johnson, who rushed for 36 yards and one touchdown, and also picked up 64 receiving yards. The bulk of those receiving yards came from one huge play: a catch that gained an incredible 52 yards. Gunter Golla Iii was another key player, rushing for 93 yards.
Even if they lost, Independence's defense still kept up the pressure with three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Johnson, Jackson Fleming, and Jakhai Ervin, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, Friday just wasn't the day for Ridgeview's offense. They were dealt a 35-0 defeat at the hands of Bakersfield Christian on Friday. While losing is never fun, the Wolf Pack can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 475th, while the Eagles are ranked 55th).
Independence's loss dropped their record down to 4-2. As for Ridgeview, the defeat was their first on the road , dropping their record down to 2-4.
Independence beat Ridgeview 21-12 in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Falcons 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
