The Southwest SD Raiders will challenge the San Ysidro Cougars at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The two teams might be coming in a bit winded given these two teams combined for 903 yards in their previous games.
Southwest SD is headed into Friday's contest looking for a big change in momentum after dropping their fourth straight games on Friday. They were a single point away from ending the streak, but they lost a 40-39 heartbreaker at the hands of Mar Vista.
Samuel Gonzales
| 10/17/25 @ Mar Vista | 246 |
| 10/10/25 vs Hilltop | 63 |
| 09/26/25 vs Kearny | 51 |
| 09/19/25 vs Sweetwater | 70 |
| 09/12/25 @ Tri-City Christian | 92 |
| + 2 more games |
Southwest SD might have lost, but man, Samuel Gonzales was a machine: he rushed for 246 yards and three TDs while picking up 8.5 yards per carry, and also picked up 50 receiving yards. With that strong performance, Gonzales is now averaging an impressive 105.6 rushing yards per game.
While Southwest SD came up short, they sure didn't make it easy for Mar Vista: they limited their QB to completion percentage of just 50%. That dominant aerial defense primarily came from four players: Christian Borja, Isaac Mu?oz, Darrell Moss, and Elijah Lewis, who each logged one passes deflected. Southwest SD wasn't nearly as limited: they posted one of 68.4%.
San Ysidro never got on the board in their matchup last Friday, but that sure wasn't the case in their game against Castle Park on Friday. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 55-7 win over the Trojans. That looming 55-7 mark stands out as the most commanding margin for the Cougars yet this season.
San Ysidro's win came from a few key players Southwest SD will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Sean Blazen, who rushed for 152 yards and three scores on only 11 carries. Those three rushing touchdowns gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Bryan Landeros, who rushed for 42 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
San Ysidro has been performing well recently as they've won four of their last five games. That's provided a nice bump to their 5-3 record this season. As for Southwest SD, they suffered their first road defeat, dropping their record down to 3-5.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Southwest SD has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 155.1 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like San Ysidro struggles in that department as they've been averaging 239.2 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Southwest SD beat San Ysidro 34-21 when the teams last played back in November of 2024. Do the Raiders have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Cougars turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
