vs
| 10/11/24 - Home | 42-7 W |
| 10/06/23 - Away | 39-0 W |
| 10/07/22 - Home | 42-16 W |
South Spencer is a perfect 3-0 against North Central since October of 2022 and they'll have a chance to extend that dominance on Friday. The Rebels will take on the Thunderbirds at 6:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
South Spencer took a loss when they played away from home last Friday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Friday. They came out on top against Pike Central by a score of 41-33.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead South Spencer to victory, but perhaps none more so than Tate Schulte, who picked up 89 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Those three receiving touchdowns gave Schulte a new career-high. South Spencer also got a significant boost from Tre Lance, who ran away from the competition to the tune of 113 yards.
South Spencer's run defense was locked in: Pike Central could only muster three yards per carry. The team can thank Rex Jaggers for the heroic effort on defense: he. South Spencer's ground attack was stronger, having averaged five.
South Spencer's defensive line didn't let the opposing QB, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for three sacks. The team can thank three different players for their defensive prowess: Ka'Shaun Taylor, Michael Stratford, and Jaquar Johnson, who each picked up one sack apiece.
Meanwhile, North Central got themselves on the board against Edinburgh on Friday, but Edinburgh never followed suit. They took their game with ease, bagging a 71-0 victory over the Lancers. That 71 point margin sets a new team best for the Thunderbirds this season.
North Central's win came from a few key players South Spencer will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Lane Phegley, who threw for 151 yards and four TDs, and also rushed for 31 yards. His passing game has become a key predictor of North Central's success: the team is undefeated when his passer rating is 100 or higher, but only 1-3 otherwise. Another player making a difference was Lane Simmons, who gained 90 total yards and two touchdowns.
Special teams played a big role in the game for North Central, adding 11 points to the final score. The biggest highlight from special teams (and perhaps the team as a whole) came courtesy of William Davis, who ran a punt back for a touchdown.
The win made it two in a row for North Central and bumps their season record up to 4-3. Those victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered a grand total of 6 points in those games. As for South Spencer, their record is now 2-5.
Everything came up roses for South Spencer against North Central in their previous matchup back in October of 2024, as the squad secured a 42-7 win. In that matchup, the Rebels amassed a halftime lead of 42-0, an impressive feat they'll look to repeat on Friday.
