Two dominant backs in Zion Bell and Blayne Wilson are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Rock Creek Mustangs will face off against the Hesston Swathers on Friday. Rock Creek will come into the game with an undefeated record on the line.
Rock Creek is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Thursday. They never let Smoky Valley get on the board and left with a 56-0 win. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Mustangs' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' Kansas football rankings (they are ranked 23rd, while the Vikings are ranked 177th).
Peter Martinie
| 10/30/25 vs Smoky Valley | 2 |
| 10/24/25 @ Chapman | 1 |
| 10/17/25 vs Concordia | 1 |
| 10/10/25 vs Marysville | 1 |
| 10/03/25 @ Clay Center | 1 |
Rock Creek found their leader in sophomore Tate Smith, who threw for 227 yards and four touchdowns on only 13 passes, and also punched in a pair of TDs on the ground. Smith is on a roll when it comes to passing touchdowns, as he's now passed for four or more in each of the last four games he's played. Peter Martinie was in the mix too, providing Rock Creek with two scores.
Wins are hard to come by when you can't run the rock, something Rock Creek proved: they limited Smoky Valley to a paltry 2.5 yards per carry. The team can thank Ezra Spiller for the heroic effort on defense: he. Rock Creek didn't have any issues in that department, having averaged 6.1.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Hesston, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Friday. They breezed past Trinity Academy to the tune of 35-0 on Friday. The victory continues a trend for the Swathers in their matchups with the Knights: they've now won seven in a row.
Hesston didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off three passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Jamison Drew Kohl, Eli Haug, and Gavin Larson picked up one apiece. Larson got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Rock Creek's record now sits at 9-0. As for Hesston, their record is now 6-3.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Rock Creek has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 221.8 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Hesston struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 177.8 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Rock Creek beat Hesston 21-11 when the teams last played back in November of 2022. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Mustangs since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
