After each having a week off, the Joel Barlow Falcons and the Pomperaug Panthers will shake off the cobwebs and hit the field against one another at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. Joel Barlow hasn't scored more than 13 points for three games straight, a trend the squad is eager to reverse.
Joel Barlow is headed into the contest out to prove that what happened against Brookfield two weeks ago (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Falcons were beaten by the Bobcats 47-13. The Falcons were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 40-0.
Joel Barlow might have lost, but man, Kaden Holub was a machine: he rushed for 98 yards and one TD on only 12 carries. Holub's longest rush was for an impressive 58 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total.
Meanwhile, it was a proper cat-fight when Pomperaug faced off against Bethel two weeks ago. The Panthers took down the Wildcats 50-33. The Panthers' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Joel Barlow better keep an eye on Jack Guinipero. He was instrumental in Pomperaug's win, rushing for 113 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only eight carries.
Pomperaug was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 274 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 176 rushing yards in seven consecutive games dating back to last season.
Joel Barlow's loss dropped their record down to 1-3. As for Pomperaug, the victory got them back to even at 2-2.
Saturday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Joel Barlow has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 194.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Pomperaug struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 256.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Saturday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything went Joel Barlow's way against Pomperaug in their previous meeting back in November of 2023, as Joel Barlow made off with a 28-7 win. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Falcons since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
