The Clifton Cubs will head out to challenge the Dublin Lions at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Both come into the game bolstered by wins in their previous matches.
On Friday, Clifton earned a 22-13 victory over Tolar.
Carter Ritz was a one-man wrecking crew as he threw for 195 yards and one touchdown on only 12 passes, and also picked up 37 receiving yards and one TD.
Clifton didn't let much get past them through the air: they limited Tolar to a completion percentage of just 40.9%. The Cubs weren't nearly as limited: they posted one of 61.5%.
Clifton's defense didn't let Briton Rice, get away unscathed either: they got into the backfield for four sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as four different players picked up one apiece. Another thorn in Tolar's side was Luis Galindo, who picked up a sack and made eight total tackles (4.0 for loss).
Meanwhile, Dublin hadn't done well against Eastland recently (they were 1-6 in their previous seven matchups), but they didn't let the past get in their way on Friday. The Lions blew past the Mavericks 57-7. The Lions' offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
Dublin's win came from a few key players Clifton will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Alex Teten, who threw for 371 yards and six touchdowns while completing 79.2% of his passes. Dublin's leading receiver Kyson Gilman was Teten's top target yet again, picking up 139 receiving yards and four scores.
Dublin didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off four passes before the game was over. It was truly a group effort as Gilman, Hudson Joslin, Joe Salinas, and Edwin Nevarez picked up one apiece. Nevarez also set a new season-high mark in total tackles with 12. He got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Clifton's win bumped their record up to 6-2. As for Dublin, their victory (their first of the season) made their record 1-7.
Friday's matchup might be decided in the trenches. Clifton has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 169.6 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Dublin, though, as they've been averaging only 79.4 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Everything came up roses for Clifton against Dublin when the teams last played back in November of 2024, as the team secured a 56-28 win. One of the biggest obstacles trying to stand in the way of that victory was the Lions' Kaden Gaiten, who rushed for 71 yards and three TDs, and also threw for 121 yards and one touchdown. Now that he won't be playing on Friday, will it be easier for the Cubs to walk away with another win? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
