Windber is 8-2 against North Star since September of 2015, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Windber Ramblers will face off against the North Star Cougars 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.
Windber put the finishing touches on their seventh blowout victory of the season on Friday. They blew past Juniata Valley, posting a 56-0 victory on the road. The win was just what Windber needed coming off of a 35-6 defeat in their prior matchup.
Windber can attribute much of their success to RJ Tallion, who rushed for 97 yards and two touchdowns on only ten carries. Evan Brady was another key contributor, picking up 85 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Meanwhile, North Star didn't have too much trouble with West Branch at home on Friday as they won 49-35. North Star's offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.
North Star can attribute much of their success to Ethan Smith, who picked up 241 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and Connor Yoder, who threw for 372 yards and seven touchdowns while picking up 18.6 yards per attempt. Smith's longest reception was for an incredible 74 yards. Another player making a difference was Ethan Eller, who picked up 52 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Another reason for the win was North Star's imposing defensive line, which managed to get into the backfield for three sacks. Leading the way was Ian Koval and his two sacks.
Their wins lifted both teams to an identical 7-3.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's contest: Windber has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 194.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like North Star struggles in that department as they've been averaging 155.2 per game. It's looking like Friday's game might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Windber might still be hurting after the 41-20 defeat they got from North Star in their previous matchup back in September. Can Windber avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
