Elk Grove has enjoyed a two-game homestand but will soon have to dust off their road jerseys. They will face off against The Jesuit Marauders at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Elk Grove was not the first on the board last Friday, but they got there more often. They breezed by Pleasant Grove at home to the tune of 34-3. Given Elk Grove's advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 147th, while Pleasant Grove is ranked 299th), the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Elk Grove to victory, but perhaps none more so than Thomas Koi, who rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries. Koi was no stranger to the big play, turning on the jets for a run that went for 58 yards. Ethan Scott also helped out as he racked up 118 rushing yards.
Meanwhile, Jesuit had already won five in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 30.8 points), and they went ahead and made it six on Saturday. They were the clear victor by a 35-14 margin over Cosumnes Oaks.
Jesuit's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Kayden Flemming, who rushed for 105 yards and two touchdowns on only seven carries. Johnnie Brannon IV and his 111 yards on the ground were also a key factor in Jesuit's win.
Elk Grove's victory was their third straight at home, bumping their overall record up to 5-3. Admittedly, the team didn't face the toughest opposition across those games, namely Pleasant Grove, Sheldon, and Cosumnes Oaks. Jesuit has been no stranger to the win column this season, as they've started out with wins in seven of their first eight matchups, giving them a 7-1 record.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Saturday's match: Elk Grove has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 282 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Jesuit struggles in that department as they've been averaging 245 per game. It's looking like Saturday's contest might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Elk Grove was able to grind out a solid victory over Jesuit in their previous meeting back in October of 2022, winning 34-21. The rematch might be a little tougher for Elk Grove since the squad won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
