The Cheraw Wolverines will square off against the Deer Trail Eagles at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
While Cheraw's victory against Wiley wasn't quite the blowout it was the last time the pair played, they still came out on top. The Wolverines narrowly escaped with a win as the squad sidled past the Panthers 54-51. With that victory, the Wolverines brought their scoring average up to 26 points per game.
Samuel Goheen had a dynamite game, picking up 72 receiving yards and two TDs, while also rushing for 43 yards. He also deserves a shoutout for his performance on D, making seven total tackles and defending one pass in addition to snagging an interception.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Cheraw was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 228 rushing yards. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 91.4 rushing yards per game earlier this season, but in their last five games they've averaged 202.7.
Special teams also played a big role in the game for Cheraw, adding 12 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of William Ledbetter, who ran a kickoff back for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Deer Trail never let their opponents score on Friday. They claimed a resounding 46-0 win over Manzanola. The victory continues a trend for the Eagles in their matchups with the Bobcats: they've now won four in a row.
Cheraw better keep an eye on Jayden Mingee. He was instrumental in Deer Trail's win, picking up 51 receiving yards and one score, while also rushing for 50 yards and one touchdown. Mingee also put in work on the defensive side of the ball, making eight total tackles and defending two passes.
One reason for the win was Deer Trail's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Hunter Meredith, Mursal Hussein, and Jackson Burdick, who each picked up one sack apiece. Deer Trail got some further help from Meredith: he picked up a sack and made 13 total tackles.
Deer Trail's win bumped their record up to 3-4. As for Cheraw, their victory was their first in the league, bumping their league record up to 1-3 and their overall record up to 2-6.
Everything came up roses for Cheraw against Deer Trail in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the team secured a 72-20 win. In that matchup, the Wolverines amassed a halftime lead of 64-14, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.
