Two dominant backs in Bridger French and Michael Grijalva are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Coconino Panthers will head out on the road to face off against the Mingus Marauders at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Coconino is hoping to put an end to a seven-game streak of away losses dating back to last season.
A well-balanced attack led Coconino over Apache Junction in every quarter on their way to victory on Friday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that Coconino blew Apache Junction out of the water with a 71-14 final score. With Coconino ahead 49-14 at the half, the matchup was all but over already.
French continued his habit of posting crazy stat lines, rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns on only ten carries, while also picking up 46 receiving yards. French is on a roll when it comes to rushing yards, as he's now rushed for 100 or more in the last three games he's played. Colton Buckingham was another key contributor, throwing for 196 yards and five touchdowns on only 13 passes.
Meanwhile, Mingus unfortunately witnessed the end of their four-game winning streak two weeks ago. They were dealt a 34-7 loss at the hands of Bradshaw Mountain. Mingus was in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 28-0.
With Coconino's win and Mingus' loss, both teams now sport identical 4-3 records.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's match: Coconino has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 190.6 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Mingus struggles in that department as they've been averaging 180.3 per game. It's looking like Friday's game might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Everything came up roses for Coconino against Mingus in their previous matchup back in October of 2022 as the squad secured a 46-8 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for Coconino since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
