The White Oak Roughnecks will head out to take on the Atlanta Rabbits at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, both will really light up the scoreboard.
While White Oak didn't have the best season last year (they finished 0-10), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They won a game that couldn't have been any closer, slipping by Queen City 35-34. The Roughnecks' victory was nothing new given the team hasn't lost yet this season.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead White Oak to victory, but perhaps none more so than Jaxsen Ludlow, who threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 85 yards. 80 of those passing yards were hauled in by Tysen McClain, who also brought in a receiving touchdown.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Atlanta). They blew past Mount Vernon, posting a 60-17 win on the road. Perhaps unsurprisingly given the team's high-flying offense, the game also marked the team's biggest victory of the season.
Atlanta's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Markeylin Batton led the charge by rushing for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while also picking up 98 receiving yards and two touchdowns. With that strong performance, Batton is now averaging an impressive 101.5 rushing yards per game. Peyton Harrison was another key player, throwing for 235 yards and five touchdowns on perfect 9-for-9 passing.
Perhaps unsurprisingly given the score, Atlanta was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 290 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 154 rushing yards in three consecutive matches.
Atlanta wouldn't let Mount Vernon keep a hold of the ball as they managed to force three fumbles. It was truly a group effort as Landon ?Boosie? Johnson, Caleb Francisco, and Francisco picked up one apiece.
White Oak's record now sits at 4-0. As for Atlanta, their record is now 3-1.
Friday's contest might be decided in the on the ground. White Oak has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 217 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Atlanta struggles in that department as they've been averaging 166.8. It's looking like Friday's matchup might have some serious battles in the trenches.
White Oak took a serious blow against Atlanta in their previous meeting back in October of 2023, falling 67-0. Can White Oak avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
