The Empire Ravens will take on the Sahuarita Mustangs at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Empire will aim to continue their four-game streak of scoring more points each game than the last.
Empire is headed in fresh off scoring the most points they have all season. They were the clear victors by a 41-21 margin over Rio Rico on Friday. The Ravens haven't had any issues with the Hawks recently, as the game was their third consecutive win against them.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Empire to victory, but perhaps none more so than Jalen Camacho, who rushed for 182 yards and one touchdown while picking up 8.7 yards per carry. Another passer making a difference was Austin Taylor, who threw for 144 yards and a pair of TDs while completing 72.2% of his passes.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Empire was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 269 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in October of 2024.
Another reason for the win was Empire's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for four sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as four different players picked up one apiece. Bryson Taton got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Sahuarita never let their opponents score on Friday. They simply couldn't be stopped as they easily beat Rincon/University 54-0. That 54 point margin sets a new team best for the Mustangs this season.
Sahuarita's receiving core played a big role in the win, headlined by Dane Hartnett and Gary Acosta Jr. Hartnett threw for 150 yards and three touchdowns while completing 90% of his passes while Acosta Jr gained 97 total yards and three touchdowns. Acosta Jr showed off some serious burst, cutting upfield on a catch for 60 yards.
Sahuarita's victory bumped their record up to 3-4. As for Empire, their win bumped their record up to 2-5.
Empire couldn't quite get it done against Sahuarita in their previous matchup back in October of 2024 as they fell 20-12. Can the Ravens avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
