You can't lose the game if you win every quarter, and that was precisely Merkel's strategy against Cross Plains on Friday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that the Badgers blew the Buffaloes out of the water with a 66-6 final score. With the Badgers ahead 47-6 at the half, the game was all but over already.
| 09/19/25 vs Cross Plains | 5 |
| 09/05/25 vs Bangs | 4 |
| 08/29/25 @ Ballinger | 4 |
| 10/25/24 @ Stanton | 3 |
| 09/12/25 vs Hawley | 2 |
Merkel's victory was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Easton Malone, who threw for 234 yards and five touchdowns while completing 76.9% of his passes, and also rushed for 33 yards. Those five passing touchdowns gave Malone a new career-high. Mayson Prieto was in the mix too, providing Merkel with two TDs.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Merkel was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 214 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've managed all season.
Merkel's record is now 3-1. As for Cross Plains, their loss was their sixth straight on the road dating back to last season, which dropped their record down to 1-3.
Merkel wasted no time getting back out on the field and has already played their next contest, a 58-12 win against San Angelo Texas Leadership Charter Academy on the 26th. As for Cross Plains, they have also already played their next matchup, a 32-13 victory against Sterling City on the 26th.
Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps
