Hilltop has won three straight games at home, while Coastal Academy has won three straight on the road dating back to last season, but those streaks won't matter much on Friday. The Lancers will welcome the Stingrays at 7:00 p.m. That game will pit two of the most dominant backs against one another: Leo Mendoza and Nolan White.
If Hilltop beats Coastal Academy with 28 points on Friday, it's going to be the squad's new lucky number: they've won their past two contests with that exact score. The Lancers enjoyed a cozy 28-13 win over Olympian on Friday. The Lancers pushed the score to 28-7 by the end of the third, a deficit the Eagles cut but never quite recovered from.
Lajuan Johnson produced another solid effort rushing for 100 yards and two TDs on only eight carries. His longest rush was for an impressive 61 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total. Zion Almazon was in the mix too, providing Hilltop with one touchdown.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Hilltop was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 323 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 156 rushing yards in six consecutive matchups.
Hilltop didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. In fact, those interceptions all came courtesy of defensive juggernaut Bryson Grant. Hilltop received some extra help from Almazon, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Meanwhile, Coastal Academy didn't have too much breathing room in their game against La Jolla Country Day on Thursday, but they still walked away with a 33-28 victory.
Coastal Academy's win came from a few key players Hilltop will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Jesse Moyano, who rushed for 168 yards and a pair of scores while picking up 7.3 yards per carry. Those 168 rushing yards gave him a new career-high. Zac Garland was another key player, throwing for 126 yards and two TDs.
Hilltop's record now sits at 7-3. As for Coastal Academy, their record is now 9-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Hilltop has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 205.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Coastal Academy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 223.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup 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.
