Two dominant backs in Garrett Smidt and Connor Hinrichs are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Tri County Trojans will host the Sutton Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Tri County has given up an average of 40.7 points per game this season, but Friday's game will give them a chance to turn things around.
Tri County is headed into the matchup out to prove that what happened against Thayer Central on Friday (when they were outscored in every quarter) was just a minor bump in the road. The Trojans took a blow against the Titans, falling 68-22. The Trojans were in a tough position after the first half, with the score already sitting at 48-6.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Sutton). They blew past Southern 74-0 on Thursday. Given the Mustangs' advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska football rankings (they are ranked 33rd, while the Raiders are ranked 113th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Tri County better focus on containing Keith Kliewer and Griffin Bergen as the pair were huge in Sutton's win. Kliewer rushed for 52 yards and a pair of TDs, while Bergen rushed for 87 yards and two scores. Kliewer's passing game has become a key predictor of Sutton's success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-2 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Javin Jordan, who rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Sutton proved: they limited Southern to a paltry 1.9 yards per carry. The team can thank Max Huxoll for the heroic effort on defense: he. Sutton didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 11.2.
Sutton's defense didn't let Weston Whitwer, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for four sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Bergen, Jordan, and Aydin Banta, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Sutton pushed their record up to 5-2 with the win, which was their third straight on the road. Those road victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 59.3 points over those games. As for Tri County, they have traveled a rocky road recently, having lost three of their last four contests. That's put a noticeable dent in their 2-5 record this season.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Tri County has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 170.3 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Sutton struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 334.1 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Tri County took a serious blow against Sutton when the teams last played back in October of 2024, falling 51-18. Will the Trojans have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check back here after the action for a full breakdown and analysis of the contest.
