The Wagner Thunderbirds are taking a road trip to face off against the Victoria East Titans at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Wagner has given up an average of 38.2 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
On Friday, Wagner had to suffer through a 48-7 loss at the hands of Smithson Valley. While losing is never fun, the Thunderbirds can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 520th, while the Rangers are ranked 57th).
Wagner might have lost, but man, Anthony Rodriguez-Martinez was a machine: he rushed for 78 yards and one score. Rodriguez-Martinez really tore up the turf during one magnificent 78-yard run.
Even if they lost, Wagner's defensive line still kept up the pressure with three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Immanuel James, Trez'Vant Mason, and Dy'Maurion Gonkanue-Lackey, who each picked up one sack apiece. Another thorn in Smithson Valley's side was James, who picked up a sack, forced one fumble, and made five total tackles.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Victoria East, who bounced back after a loss on the road back in September. They simply couldn't be stopped on Thursday as they easily beat MacArthur 43-7. The high-flying offensive performance was a huge turnaround for the Titans considering their three-point performance the game before.
Wagner better keep an eye on Breshawn Stafford. He was instrumental in Victoria East's win, rushing for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only nine carries.
Victoria East's run defense was locked in: MacArthur could only muster 1.8 yards per carry. The team can thank Caleb Alvarez for the heroic effort on defense: he. Victoria East's run defense has been on the up-and-up: they allowed 4.4 yards per carry earlier this season, but they've only allowed 4.5 on average over their last three games.
Wagner's defeat dropped their record down to 2-4. As for Victoria East, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-5.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Wagner has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 255.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Victoria East struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 165.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Wagner strolled past Victoria East when the teams last played back in October of 2024 by a score of 42-28. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Thunderbirds since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
