Blake is 1-9 against Paint Branch since September of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Bengals will take on the Panthers at 6:30 p.m. The two teams have allowed few points on average (Blake 11.4, Paint Branch 8) so any points scored will be well earned.
Blake is coming in off a wild two-game stretch: after soaring to 49 points last Friday, they were much more limited against Bethesda-Chevy Chase on Friday. They lost to the Barons on the road by a 28-13 margin.
The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Junior Rodriguez, who picked up 56 receiving yards and one score, and also rushed for 54 yards.
Meanwhile, Paint Branch waltzed into their game on Friday with five straight wins... but they left with six. They never let the Vikings get on the board and left with a 61-0 victory. Given the Panthers' advantage in MaxPreps' Maryland football rankings (they are ranked 31st, while the Vikings are ranked 140th) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Paint Branch's win came from a few key players Blake will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Vincent Do, who threw for 276 yards and four TDs on only 11 passes. Those 276 passing yards gave him a new career-high. Michael Boateng was in the mix as well, providing Paint Branch with three touchdowns.
Paint Branch didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Whitman to a completion percentage of just 38.9%. The team can thank I'Lijah Taylor for the heroic effort on defense: he. Paint Branch wasn't nearly as limited: they posted one of 66.7%.
Paint Branch's defense didn't let Hicham El Ghormli, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank two different players for their defensive prowess: Raheim Briddell and Malakai Manson, who each picked up one sack apiece. Paint Branch received some extra help from Shiloh Bryant-Serrano, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Blake's loss dropped their record down to 5-2. As for Paint Branch, their record now sits at 6-1.
| Rushing Yards | 553 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 5 |
Friday's contest will pit two of the most dominant backs against one another: Rodriguez and Alijah Bah. Rodriguez just won't slow down this season and has run in 5 touchdowns while averaging 92.2 rushing yards per game. Bah has been a dominant force too and has run in 13 touchdowns while averaging 123.3 rushing yards per game.
Blake was taken down by Paint Branch 35-7 in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Can the Bengals avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
