Africentric Early College is 1-8 against Independence since October of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Nubians will take on the 76ers at 7:00 p.m. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty point totals in their previous games.
Independence will be up against a hot Africentric Early College team: the squad just extended their winning streak to three. The Nubians blew past Marion-Franklin, posting a 32-0 victory. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Nubians' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Ohio football rankings (they are ranked 139th, while the Red Devils are ranked 363rd).
Larell Hairston
| 09/18/25 @ West | 33 |
| 09/12/25 vs Briggs | 35 |
| 09/05/25 vs St. Francis DeSales | 37 |
| 08/29/25 @ Minster | 45 |
| 08/22/25 vs Woodward | 50 |
Africentric Early College found their leader in sophomore Larell Hairston, who rushed for 147 yards and two touchdowns on only 15 carries. Those 147 rushing yards set a new season-high mark for Hairston. Caleb Anthony also deserves a mention for his punt return touchdown.
Africentric Early College was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 273 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in September of 2024.
Meanwhile, Independence got themselves on the board against Briggs on Friday, but Briggs never followed suit. They took their game with ease, bagging a 52-0 win over the Bruins. That 52 point margin sets a new team best for the 76ers this season.
Africentric Early College better keep an eye on Gabriel Ogbara. He was instrumental in Independence's win, rushing for 249 yards and three TDs while picking up 13.1 yards per carry. Ogbara's longest rush was for an incredible 77 yards. Darren White-Tyler was another major influence, as he rushed for 66 yards and ran in a TD.
Africentric Early College's record now sits at 5-1. As for Independence, their record is now 4-2.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Africentric Early College has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 180.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Independence struggles in that department as they've been averaging 311.7 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's contest turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Everything came up roses for Africentric Early College against Independence when the teams last played back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 28-0 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Nubians since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
