Marquette Catholic hasn't had much luck against Roxana recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Explorers will host the Shells at 7:00 p.m.
On Saturday, Marquette Catholic ended up a good deal behind Hayti and lost 32-14.
Although Marquette Catholic took the loss, they still got scores from Don'tay Longstreet and Jhordyn Croft.
Meanwhile, Roxana never let their opponents score on Friday. They claimed a resounding 55-0 win over East Alton-Wood River. The result was nothing new for the Shells, who have now won four matchups by 27 points or more so far this season.
Roxana found their leader in sophomore Mekhi Shorter, who rushed for 102 yards. Shorter is crushing it when it comes to rushing yards: he's rushed for at least 102 every time he's taken the field this season.
Roxana was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 426 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 231 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Special teams played a big role in the game for Roxana, adding 11 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Max Autery, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Marquette Catholic's defeat dropped their record down to 5-3. As for Roxana, their victory bumped their record up to an identical 5-3.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Marquette Catholic has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 208 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Roxana struggles in that department as they've been averaging 325.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Marquette Catholic was dealt a bruising 42-0 loss at the hands of Roxana in their previous meeting back in October of 2024. Will the Explorers have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
