Sequoyah Aims to Keep Region Title Hopes Alive Against Visiting Pope

Scouting the Chiefs

The Sequoyah Chiefs bounced back in a big way their last time out, defeating Woodstock to stay in the thick of the region title race. As usual, the Chiefs set the tone on the ground behind standout running back Will Rajecki, who rushed for 171 yards and 3 touchdowns in the win.

For the season, Rajecki has been nearly unstoppable, piling up 1,174 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns to pace the Sequoyah offense. Quarterback Kolby Martin has provided solid balance through the air, throwing for 1,291 yards and 11 touchdowns while completing 63% of his passes. His top targets include Jack Ripley (20 receptions, 402 yards, 6 TDs), Brooks Darling (21 receptions, 361 yards, 1 TD), and Rajecki (15 receptions, 209 yards, 1 TD).

Defensively, the Chiefs are led by Drew Williams, who has been a tackling machine with 104 total tackles, 67 solo stops, and a team-high 6 sacks. Brooks Darling leads the secondary with 5 interceptions, while Michael Fountain and Noah Normile each have 7 tackles for loss. Hayden Poole and Carson Bahry add 65 and 61 tackles, respectively, giving Sequoyah a deep and disciplined defensive unit.

Scouting the Greyhounds

The Pope Greyhounds enter this week still looking for their first win of the season but have shown resilience despite their record. Pope is averaging 11.7 points per game, while its defense is allowing 39.1.

In their last outing, the Greyhounds were held to just 148 yards of total offense. The rushing attack has been led by Ivan Darden Jr. and Ethan Alterman, who have combined for 627 yards and 2 touchdowns. Junior quarterback Hudson Marinko has thrown for 795 yards and 6 touchdowns, while also adding 127 yards and 3 scores on the ground.

Keys to Victory

Sequoyah:

• Feed Rajecki Early and Often: Continue to dominate on the ground with the region’s most productive back.

• Maintain Offensive Balance: Martin’s efficiency through the air keeps defenses from loading the box.

• Stay Aggressive on Defense: Apply pressure on Marinko and force turnovers to set up short fields.

  
  

Pope:

• Slow the Run Game: Containing Rajecki is priority number one. Limit early-down success to force Sequoyah into passing situations.

• Sustain Drives: Long possessions will help keep the Chiefs’ offense off the field.

• Capitalize on Mistakes: Take advantage of any Sequoyah miscues to gain momentum and confidence.

Pundit's Pick

Pope will have its hands full trying to slow down a Sequoyah offense firing on all cylinders. Expect another big night from Rajecki as the Chiefs stay hot.

Prediction: Sequoyah by 35.