Two dominant backs in Ja'Cari Harris and Tyler Buttendorf are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Notre Dame Prep Lancers will head out to take on the Brookfield Bobcats at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Notre Dame Prep has been dominant on offense recently, having racked up an incredible 110 points over their last three contests.
On Friday, Notre Dame Prep didn't have quite enough to beat Nonnewaug/Lakeview/Shepaug Valley and fell 35-32. The Lancers gained 233 more yards on the day, but it was the Chiefs that made the best use of them.
The match pitted two dominant backs against one another in Harris and Davion Joe. Joe had a solid game and gained 101 total yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Harris was balling out in the loss, rushing for 213 yards and three touchdowns while picking up 8.9 yards per carry.
Nathan Derisme
| 10/24/25 @ Nonnewaug/Lakeview/Shepaug Valley | 8 |
| 10/17/25 @ Weston | 8 |
| 10/03/25 vs New Fairfield | 8 |
| 09/26/25 vs Stratford | 7 |
| 09/19/25 vs Joel Barlow | 11 |
| 09/12/25 @ Avon | 7 |
Even if they lost, Notre Dame Prep's defensive line still kept up the pressure with six sacks. In that department, Nathan Derisme was the leader with four. Derisme is also crushing it when it comes to total tackles: he's made at least seven every time he's taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 54 points the game before, Brookfield was a bit more limited in their matchup on Thursday. They took a hard 21-7 fall against Newtown. The Bobcats haven't had much luck with the Nighthawks recently, as the team has come up short the last five times they've met.
Notre Dame Prep's loss dropped their record down to 4-2. As for Brookfield, their defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 4-2.
Saturday's game might be decided on the ground. Notre Dame Prep has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 289.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Brookfield struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 230.7 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Notre Dame Prep was able to grind out a solid victory over Brookfield in their previous meeting back in October of 2023, winning 28-20. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Bobcats' Michael Walters, who rushed for 159 yards and one TD on only 14 carries, and also picked up 112 receiving yards. Now that he won't be playing on Saturday, will it be easier for the Lancers to walk away with another win? There's only one way to find out.
