Vista del Lago is 9-0 against Rio Americano since October of 2014, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Vista del Lago Eagles will be playing in front of their home fans against the Rio Americano Raiders at 7:00 p.m. Vista del Lago is coming into the contest hot, having won their last nine games.
Two weeks ago, Vista del Lago was able to grind out a solid win over Christian Brothers, taking the game 35-28. Given Vista del Lago's advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 105th, while Christian Brothers is ranked 221st), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
It was another big night for Johnny Koett, who threw for 326 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 10.9 yards per attempt. The team also got some help courtesy of Matt Long, who picked up 119 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Another reason for the win was Vista del Lago's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. Max Vota was particularly dangerous to the passing game, picking up two sacks himself.
Meanwhile, Rio Americano had already proven themselves in the regular season, and didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They won a match that couldn't have been any closer, slipping by Fairfield 20-19. The win was just what Rio Americano needed coming off of a 48-26 defeat in their prior game.
Rio Americano's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Keilen Gilbert, who threw for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Thorne Watson also deserves a shout-out for his two touchdowns.
Vista del Lago's victory was their eighth straight on the road dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 9-1. Those victories were due in large part to their offensive dominance across that stretch, as they averaged 46.1 points per game. As for Rio Americano, their win bumped their record up to 9-2.
Vista del Lago took their victory against Rio Americano in their previous meeting back in October by a conclusive 41-15. Will Vista del Lago repeat their success, or does Rio Americano have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.
