KOKOMO, Ind. — It's the last week of the regular season and Operation Football is taking a short road trip to Kokomo where the Lafayette Jefferson Bronchos (4-4) will play North Central Conference rival, the Class 4A No. 5 Kokomo Wildkats (7-1).
Kokomo has had an objectively stellar season so far. The Wildkats have already been featured on Operation Football this season when they defeated Whiteland in week two. Now, Kokomo has one last conference game before playing Jay County (4-4) in the first round of sectionals.
Lafayette Jeff's season maybe hasn't gone as well as Kokomo's, but the Bronchos have still played well in conference. They sit 3-2 in the North Central Conference standings, having routed Richmond, Muncie Central and Marion.
Breaking down the two teams' common opponents, Lafayette Jeff beat Richmond 36-0 in week four while Kokomo beat Richmond 43-0 last week. Against Muncie Central, Lafayette Jeff won 41-0 while Kokomo won 47-7. Kokomo beat Marion 35-20 in week five and Lafayette Jeff won 43-6 over Marion last week.
Surprisingly, both teams have posted losses to the McCutcheon Mavericks. In week six, McCutcheon ended Kokomo's bid at an undefeated season when they beat the Wildkats 10-6 in a low scoring affair. One week later in week seven, McCutcheon won 34-22 over Lafayette Jeff.
Senior Reis Beard has arguably been the star player for the Wildkats this season. So far, Beard has thrown for over 500 yards passing and rushed for over 700 yards, according to MaxPreps. He's responsible for 18 of the Kats' touchdowns this season with four being passing and the other fourteen being rushing TD's.
Just like Kokomo's Beard, the Bronchos' senior quarterback Lance Crowder has had success using his legs this season. According to MaxPreps, Crowder has thrown for over 300 passing yards this season, but has rushed for over 600 yards and 12 touchdowns.
It will be a battle of high-power running games on Friday. The best advice to defenses would be to do everything possible to bend but not break.