Clark hasn't had much luck against Reagan recently, but that could start to change on Friday. The Cougars will head out to face off against the Rattlers at 7:30 p.m. Expect the scorekeeper to be kept busy: if their previous games are any indication, these teams will really light up the scoreboard.
On Saturday, Clark came up short against SA Roosevelt and fell 42-31.
Despite their loss, Clark saw several players rise to the challenge and make noteworthy plays. Nathan McManus, who rushed for 88 yards and one score, was perhaps the best of all.
Clark didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of J.D. Brightwell and Mark Mesa. Brett Garza was another major factor on D, making 11 total tackles (2.0 for loss).
Meanwhile, Reagan was able to grind out a solid victory over Churchill on Friday, taking the game 35-25. Given the Rattlers' advantage in MaxPreps' Texas football rankings (they are ranked 198th, while the Chargers are ranked 570th) , the result wasn't entirely unexpected.
Clark better keep an eye on Edwin Bridges. He was instrumental in Reagan's win, rushing for 229 yards and a pair of touchdowns while picking up 9.5 yards per carry. The dominant performance also gave Bridges a new career-high in rushing touchdowns (two).
Reagan was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 326 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 200 rushing yards in five consecutive contests.
Clark's defeat dropped their record down to 6-2. As for Reagan, the win got them back to even at 4-4.
Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. Clark has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 171.2 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Reagan struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 256.9 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Clark was taken down by Reagan 49-12 in their previous matchup back in November of 2024. That contest was all but decided by halftime, at which point the Cougars were down 21-0.
