The Meridian Mustangs will face off against the Stuart Broncos at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Friday, Meridian got the win against Dorchester by a conclusive 47-21. The Mustangs haven't had any issues with the Longhorns recently, as the game was their fifth consecutive victory against them.
Jayton Jones
| 10/24/25 @ Dorchester | 177 |
| 09/12/25 @ Lewiston | 136 |
| 10/03/25 @ Parkview Christian | 123 |
| 09/05/25 vs Diller-Odell | 92 |
| 10/17/25 @ Silver Lake | 60 |
| + 3 more games |
Meridian can attribute much of their success to Jayton Jones, who rushed for 177 yards and four touchdowns on only nine carries, and Maddox Haake, who gained 227 total yards and three touchdowns. Jones has become a key player for the Mustangs: the team is undefeated when he posts at least 100 rushing yards, but 2-3 otherwise.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Meridian was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 322 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in September of 2024.
Meanwhile, Stuart never let their opponents score on Friday. They took their game with ease, bagging a 54-0 win over Ansley/Litchfield. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Broncos' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Nebraska football rankings (they are ranked eighth, while the Spartans are ranked 97th).
Stuart's win came from a few key players Meridian will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Drew Schmaderer, who rushed for 52 yards and one score, and also caught one TD. Another back making a difference was Austin Connot, who rushed for 75 yards and one touchdown.
On the defensive side of the ball, a lot of the credit has to go to Stuart's defense and their three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Owen Littau, Atwood Albrecht, and Hayden Dvorak, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meridian's record now sits at 5-3. As for Stuart, their record is now 7-1.
