Two dominant backs in Hekili Hernandez and Odie Jefferson are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Pleasant Grove Eagles will face off against the Monterey Trail Mustangs at 7:15 p.m. on Friday. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
As a matter of fact, Pleasant Grove put up the most points they have all season last Friday. They blew past Sheldon 64-0. Given the Eagles' advantage in MaxPreps' California football rankings (they are ranked 358th, while the Huskies are ranked 931st) , the win wasn't entirely unexpected.
Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Pleasant Grove to victory, but perhaps none more so than Robert Wainaina, who rushed for 89 yards and three touchdowns. Wainaina got the majority of those rushing yards when he took off on a run that went for an incredible 51 yards. Ivan Saeyang also helped with two TDs in total.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Pleasant Grove was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 355 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 223 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, you're bound to get a positive result if you outscore your opponent every quarter and that's exactly how it played out for Monterey Trail on Friday. Given that consistent dominance, it should come as no surprise that they blew Sheldon out of the water with a 62-0 final score. The victory continues a trend for the Mustangs in their matchups with the Huskies: they've now won four in a row.
Pleasant Grove better keep an eye on Kaden Love. He was instrumental in Monterey Trail's win, throwing for 181 yards and three touchdowns on only 11 passes, while also rushing for 31 yards. Another pass catcher making a difference was Jimmy Jackson, who picked up 100 receiving yards and a pair of scores.
One reason for the win was Monterey Trail's imposing defense, which managed to get into the backfield for five sacks. The team can thank two different players for their defensive prowess: Ethan Guerrero and Xavier Collins, who each picked up 1.5 sacks apiece. Monterey Trail received some extra help from Ian Guerrero, whose fumble return for a touchdown made for one of the most unforgettable moments.
Pleasant Grove's record is now 4-1. As for Monterey Trail, their record now sits at an identical 4-1.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Pleasant Grove has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 282.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Monterey Trail struggles in that department as they've been averaging 270.4 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's matchup turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Pleasant Grove and Monterey Trail were neck-and-neck in their previous meeting back in October of 2024, but Pleasant Grove came up empty-handed after a 21-20 loss. Can the Eagles avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
