Two dominant backs in Juelz Johnson and Brayden Andrews are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Farrell Steelers will head out to square off against the Southern Columbia Area Tigers at 1:00 p.m. on Friday. Farrell knows how to get points on the board -- the squad has finished with 31 points or more in their past eight games -- so hopefully Southern Columbia Area likes a good challenge.
Farrell is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Saturday. They were the clear victors by a 40-19 margin over Seton LaSalle. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Steelers' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Pennsylvania football rankings (they are ranked 13th, while the Rebels are ranked 60th).
AAron Pegues was his usual excellent self, throwing for 73 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 30 yards.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Farrell was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 315 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 156 rushing yards in eight consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Southern Columbia Area had already won 13 in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 30.8 points) and they went ahead and made it 14 on Friday. They strolled past the Crusaders with points to spare, taking the game 24-7. The score was all tied up 7-7 at the break, but the Tigers were the (much) better team in the second half.
Farrell better keep an eye on Ayden Hockenbroch. He was instrumental in Southern Columbia Area's win, rushing for 61 yards and a pair of TDs. Those 61 rushing yards gave Hockenbroch a new career-high.
Southern Columbia Area's defense made their presence known, laying out Yeboa Cobbold Jr. four times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Ethan Makowski, Brady Arnold, and John Quinton, who each picked up one sack apiece. Southern Columbia Area got some further help from Makowski: he picked up a sack, forced one fumble, and made seven total tackles (3.0 for loss).
Farrell's record now sits at 13-2. As for Southern Columbia Area, their record is now 14-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Farrell has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 229.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Southern Columbia Area struggles in that department as they've been averaging 290.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other football content.
