The Rocklin Thunder will square off against the Monterey Trail Mustangs at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. The two teams are sauntering into the matchup backed by comfortable wins in their prior games.
Rocklin is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They claimed a resounding 53-20 victory over Whitney. The win continues a trend for the Thunder in their matchups with the Wildcats: they've now won six in a row.
Rocklin's win on Friday was the result of several impressive offensive performances. One of the most notable came from Mason Cunningham, who rushed for 76 yards and three TDs. Another back making a difference was Gered Linder, who rushed for 63 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only five carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Rocklin was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 220 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in October of 2024.
Rocklin's defense stepped up as well, laying out Carson Floyd three times. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Damien Panteloglow, Dom Coehlo, and Daveion Theophilus, who each picked up one sack apiece. Panteloglow was another major factor on D, picking up a sack and making eight total tackles in addition to snagging an interception which he returned for a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Monterey Trail got themselves on the board against Pleasant Grove on Friday, but Pleasant Grove never followed suit. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Eagles 35-0. Considering the Mustangs have won three contests by more than 20 points this season, Friday's blowout was nothing new.
Rocklin better keep an eye on Odie Jefferson. He was instrumental in Monterey Trail's win, rushing for 87 yards and two scores. Jefferson is on a roll when it comes to rushing touchdowns, as he's now punched in two or more in each of the last three games he's played. Kaden Love was another key player, rushing for 28 yards and one TD.
Monterey Trail's victory bumped their record up to 5-1. As for Rocklin, their win was their first in the league, bumping their league record up to 1-2 and their overall record up to 4-2.
Friday's game might be decided on the ground. Rocklin has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 150.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Monterey Trail struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 262 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other football content.
