Smith Center is 1-0 against Valley Heights since October of 2022, and they'll have a chance to extend that success on Friday. The Smith Center Redmen will head out on the road to face off against the Valley Heights Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. Both teams are coming into the match red-hot, with Smith Center sitting on five straight wins and Valley Heights on six.
Last Friday, Smith Center got themselves on the board against Sacred Heart, but Sacred Heart never followed suit. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat the Knights 48-0 at home. The result was nothing new for Smith Center, who have now won four matchups by 24 points or more so far this season.
Smith Center's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Luke Franklin led the charge by rushing for 112 yards and four touchdowns on only 15 carries. Franklin is on a roll when it comes to rushing yards, as he's now rushed for 100 or more in the last four games he's played. Jason Desbien and his 112 yards on the ground were also a key factor in Smith Center's win.
Valley Heights had a rough season last year, but they looks ready to turn that poor record around this year. They really took it to Wabaunsee for the full four quarters, racking up a 64-26 win on the road. With Valley Heights ahead 40-14 at the half, the game was all but over already.
Valley Heights' success was spearheaded by the efforts of Jayden DeWalt, who rushed for 199 yards and two touchdowns while picking up 11.7 yards per carry, and Carson Spoonts, who rushed for 181 yards and five touchdowns while picking up 10.6 yards per carry.
Their wins lifted both teams to an identical 6-1.
Here's a few offensive stats to keep an eye on ahead of Friday's matchup: Smith Center has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 272.7 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Valley Heights struggles in that department as they've been even better at 293 per game. It's looking like Friday's match might have some serious battles in the trenches.
Everything came up roses for Smith Center against Valley Heights when the teams last played back in October of 2022 as the team secured a 56-12 victory. The rematch might be a little tougher for Smith Center since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
