East Bay is 0-7 against Tampa Bay Tech since October of 2015 but things could change on Friday. The Indians will head out to face off against the Titans at 7:30 p.m. Both come into the matchup bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
East Bay proved they can win big last Friday (they won by 57) and on Friday they proved they can win the close ones too. They came out on top in a nail-biter against Wharton, sneaking past 27-24. For those keeping track at home, that's the closest win the Indians have posted since October 25, 2024.
Trey Alexander had an outrageously good game as he rushed for 91 yards and a pair of touchdowns on only eight carries. His longest rush was for an impressive 69 yards, which helps to explain his lofty yards per carry total.
East Bay's run defense was locked in: Wharton could only muster three yards per carry. The team can thank Malik Boyd for the heroic effort on defense: he. East Bay's ground attack was stronger, having averaged 5.3.
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay Tech took their contest last Friday with ease, bagging a 50-7 victory over Spoto. That 43 point margin sets a new team best for the Titans this season.
East Bay better keep an eye on Isaiah Daniel. He was instrumental in Tampa Bay Tech's win, rushing for 94 yards and one score. Trevon Moore also helped with two TDs in total.
One reason for the win was Tampa Bay Tech's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for seven sacks. Jeremy Johnson was especially locked on to Spoto's QB and sacked him 3.5 times. Johnson also set a new season-high mark in total tackles with nine. Barry Marshall got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Special teams was a major factor in the game for Tampa Bay Tech, racking up 12 points in total. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of Tyson Stroud, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
Tampa Bay Tech pushed their record up to 4-2 with the win, which was their seventh straight on the road dating back to last season. Those road victories came thanks in part to their offensive performance across that stretch, as they averaged 40.6 points over those games. As for East Bay, they now have a winning record of 4-3.
East Bay was dealt a bruising 54-19 loss at the hands of Tampa Bay Tech in their previous matchup back in November of 2024. Can the Indians avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
