Sunnyvale are on the road again on Thursday and play against the Gilmer Buckeyes at 7:00 p.m. on November 16th. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Sunnyvale had already proven themselves in the regular season, and didn't miss a beat now that it's playoff time. They claimed a resounding 47-7 win over Krum on the road. Given Sunnyvale's advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 213th, while Krum is ranked 660th), the result on Friday wasn't entirely unexpected.
Sunnyvale's success was the result of a balanced attack that saw several players step up, but Nelson Peterson jr led the charge by throwing for 98 yards and two touchdowns on only nine passes, while also punching in a touchdown on the ground. Jackson Smith was another key contributor, throwing for 212 yards and two touchdowns on only 19 passes.
Meanwhile, Gilmer entered their tilt with Center with four consecutive wins but they'll enter their next game with five. Gilmer simply couldn't be stopped on Friday as they easily beat Center 69-42 at home. This was one game where the offenses had no trouble playing at a high level.
Gilmer had a senior duo take command as Will Henderson gained 277 total yards and five touchdowns and Dhrvay Smith rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns on only nine carries. Henderson is on a roll when it comes to rushing yards, as he's now rushed for 100 or more in the last three games he's played. Another player making a difference was Cadon Tennison, who threw for 85 yards and a touchdown.
Sunnyvale's win bumped their record up to 9-2. As for Gilmer, they have yet to lose a contest at home this season, leaving them with a 8-3 record.
Things could have been worse for Sunnyvale, but things could have been a whole lot better as they took a 31-14 loss to Gilmer in their previous matchup back in November of 2020. Can Sunnyvale avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
