The Westlake Academy Blacksmiths will square off against the Hill County Wolves at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Westlake Academy has three straight victories, Hill County has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
Westlake Academy is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They claimed a resounding 72-22 win over Tyler HEAT. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Blacksmiths' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 28th, while Tyler HEAT are ranked 157th).
One reason for the win was Westlake Academy's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. In fact, those sacks all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Preston Colby.
Meanwhile, Hill County lost to Kopperl at home by a 68-51 margin on Thursday. While the Wolves didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating the Eagles 13-8 in the first quarter.
Westlake Academy will have to keep a close watch on Tristan Knight and Connor Knight, a pair of players who had a big impact on Hill County's prior game. Tristan rushed for 283 yards and three scores while picking up 11.8 yards per carry, while Connor threw for 114 yards and three touchdowns. Tristan also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, forcing two fumbles and making five total tackles.
Hill County's defeat dropped their record down to 1-6. As for Westlake Academy, their victory bumped their record up to 4-1.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Westlake Academy has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 149 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hill County struggles in that department as they've been averaging 262.7 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Westlake Academy against Hill County in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 62-12 win. Will the Blacksmiths repeat their success, or do the Wolves have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
