After two games on the road, Topsail is heading back home. They will host the Ashley Screaming Eagle at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Topsail is strutting in with some offensive muscle as they've averaged 36.5 points per game this season.
Topsail and Hoggard met for a duel on Friday where Topsail couldn't get it done. Topsail took a 27-16 hit to the loss column at the hands of Hoggard. The Pirates have struggled against the Vikings recently, as their game on Friday was their fifth consecutive lost matchup.
Topsail's loss shouldn't obscure the performances of Damarion Smith, who rushed for 79 yards and a touchdown, and Landen Cook, who rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown. Those 79 rushing yards gave Smith a new career-high. Topsail also got help from Jackson Reeves, who showed off his sure hands for 96 receiving yards.
Even though they lost, Topsail was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 208 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 208 rushing yards in three consecutive matches.
Meanwhile, Ashley never let their opponents score on Friday. They breezed by South Brunswick on the road to the tune of 42-0. The Screaming Eagle might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three matchups by 27 points or more this season.
Jackson Eller went supernova for Ashley, rushing for 95 yards and a touchdown on only five carries, while also throwing for 120 yards and a touchdown while completing 90.9% of his passes.
Topsail's defeat dropped their record down to 4-3. As for Ashley, their victory bumped their record up to 6-2.
Friday's contest might be decided in the on the ground. Topsail has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 237.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Ashley struggles in that department as they've been averaging 193.6. It's looking like Friday's game might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Topsail might still be hurting after the 30-6 loss they got from Ashley in their previous matchup back in October of 2023. That match was all but decided by halftime, at which point Topsail was down 24-0.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
