Football Game Preview: Port Arthur Memorial Takes on Cleburne

By Team Reports Sep 18, 2024, 2:49am

Football Preview: Port Arthur Memorial Titans vs. Cleburne Yellowjackets

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The Port Arthur Memorial Titans will take on the Cleburne Yellowjackets at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Given that both suffered a loss in their last game, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this contest.

Last Friday, Port Arthur Memorial didn't have quite enough to beat Fort Bend Hightower and fell 40-37. While losing is never fun, the Titans can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 73rd, while the Hurricanes are ranked 20th).

Meanwhile, Cleburne fought the good fight in their overtime match against Waco on Friday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They took a 27-21 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Lions. The Yellowjackets just can't catch a break and have now endured three defeats in a row.

Cleburne might have lost, but man, Hayden Leifeste was a machine: he rushed for 157 yards and a touchdown, and also picked up 30 receiving yards. Leifeste is crushing it when it comes to rushing yards: he's rushed for at least 103 every time he's taken the field this season. Jayden Navarrete also played a phenomenal game despite the final result: he picked up 84 receiving yards.

Even though they lost, Cleburne was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 225 rushing yards. That's the most rushing yards they've posted since back in September of 2023.

Cleburne's defense was in the mix too, especially the secondary: they snagged two passes before it was all said and done. The picks came courtesy of Kaj Anderson and Malachi Cunningham.

Having lost for the first time this season, Port Arthur Memorial fell to 2-1. As for Cleburne, their loss dropped their record down to 0-3.

Article generated by infoSentience based on data entered on MaxPreps