EARLY – The Early Longhorns are looking to put last week’s 56-0 loss to District 5-3A Division II preseason favorite Tolar in the rearview mirror as the opportunity to make the playoffs is still very much a possibility for first-year head coach Randall Case’s squad.

The Longhorns (1-5, 0-1) will attempt to halt a five-game skid as they welcome the Clifton Cubs (4-2, 1-0), fresh off a 14-13 district triumph over Eastland, to Longhorn Stadium at 7 p.m. Friday.

“It’s important to make sure the kids bounce back and don’t dwell on the Tolar game,” Case said. “We’re really focusing on being able to bounce back and move forward. It’s still all out in the open for us to go make the playoffs and we know that and we’re excited about the opportunity.”

Clifton and Early share a common foe in Hamilton as Early dropped that game 41-21, while Clifton fell by a 27-7 count. The Cubs average just 18 points per game, but are allowing only 14, and defeated Eastland last week despite generating only 199 total yards, with 173 coming on the ground.

“Clifton has a bunch of tough kids,” Case said. “They’re really well coached. They’re going to come in and look to make it a physical ball game. They haven’t scored just a ton of points but that doesn’t mean they aren’t good on offense. They’re still explosive on offense and do some good things, and they’re really good on defense. I expect it to the be a physical game. We’re going to have to match their physicality and I expect it to be a hard fought battle.”

Offensively for Clifton, Joaquin De La Hoya (19 of 49 for 172 yards 1 TD, 2 INTs; 599 rushing yards, 5 TDs) and Jackson Ritz (2 of 2 for 54 yards, TD; 351 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 6-62 receiving) make the Cub offense go.

“Defensively we have to stop a couple of explosive kids they have and they like to get the ball to,” Case said. “We’re going to have to rally and put a stop to those guys and make sure that we’re good tacklers.”

The Longhorn defense is yielding 44 points and 440 yards – 280 rushing and 160 passing – per contest, but has forced 13 turnovers.

Leading the charge are Kaeden Byrd (86 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack), Mario Vazquez (58 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries), Rhett Williams (30 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), Ben Morris (30 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Brayden Schafer (26 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 fumble recovery), Will Speck (25 tackles, 1 for loss), Weston Barton (23 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery), Angel Marquez (21 tackles, 1 fumble recovery), Ben Bleth (20 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery), and Andrew Reedy (20 tackles, 1 INT).

Meanwhile, Clifton’s defense is led by James Liardon (48 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 sacks), Ritz (32 tackles, 2 for loss, 3 interceptions), Landon Knox (24 tackles, 5 for loss), Brody Baggett (24 tackles, 8 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries), and De La Hoya (22 tackles,1 for loss, 1 sack). The Cubs have also created 13 takeaways through six games.

Early heads into the game averaging 20 points and 326 yards – 186 passing and 140 rushing – per outing, with nine turnovers.

Barton has completed 89 of 161 passes for 1,028 yards with nine touchdowns, seven interceptions and 138 rushing yards, while leading receiving threats include Reedy (53-762, 6 TDs; 117 rushing yards, 6 TDs), Bleth (23-281, 2 TDs) and Jaxson Stockman (4-46, TD). Weapons out of the backfield include Cameron Love (283 rushing yards), Morris (174 rushing yards, TD), and Brandon Walker (127 rushing yards, TD).

“Offensively we’re going to have to finish off drives,” Case said. “Clifton holds the ball quite a bit and tries to eat up the clock, so when we do get our opportunities we are going to have to capitalize on that.”

According to Harris Ratings Weekly, Early is a 30-point underdog.

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Early Longhorns 2024 Football Season Stats

Through 6 Games (1-5, 0-1)

TEAM OFFENSE

20.3 points per game (122)

326.0 yards per game (1,956)

139.8 rushing yards per game (839)

186.2 passing yards per game (1,117)

PASSING

* Weston Barton

89 of 161 for 1,028 yards, 9 TDs, 7 INTs

RUSHING

* Cameron Love

283 yards on 44 carries

* Ben Morris

174 yards on 47 carries, 1 TD

* Weston Barton

138 yards on 26 carries

* Brandon Walker

127 yards on 23 carries, 1 TD

* Andrew Reedy

117 yards on 22 carries, 6 TDs

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

53 catches, 762 yards, 6 TDs

* Ben Bleth

23 catches, 281 yards, 2 TDs

* Jaxson Stockman

4 catches, 46 yards, 1 TD

* Angel Marquez

3 catches for 17 yards

* Da’Corrain McBride

2 catches, 1 yard

* Brayden Moya

1 catch for 6 yards

* Cameron Love

1 catch for 5 yards

* Ben Morris

1 catch, -3 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

44.0 points per game (264)

439.8 yards per game (2,639)

280.3 rushing yards per game (1,682)

159.5 passing yards per game (957)

TACKLES

* Kaeden Byrd

86 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack

* Mario Vazquez

58 tackles, 1 for loss, 2 fumble recoveries

* Rhett Williams

30 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 2 fumble recoveries

* Ben Morris

30 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack

* Brayden Schafer

26 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 fumble recovery

* Will Speck

25 tackles, 1 for loss

* Weston Barton

23 tackles, 3 INTs, 1 fumble recovery

* Angel Marquez

21 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Ben Bleth

20 tackles, 1 for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovery

* Andrew Reedy

20 tackles, 1 INT

* Brandon Walker

16 tackles, 3 for loss

* Da’Corrain McBride

16 tackles

* Brennen Rasor

15 tackles, 1 fumble recovery

* Rhett Smith

14 tackles

* Aaron Mendoza

7 tackles

* Cameron Love

4 tackles

* Eli Pallette

4 tackles

* Jaxson Stockman

3 tackles

* Jack Nowell

3 tackles

* Brayden Moya

2 tackles

* Riley Barton

1 tackle

* Ethan Moseley

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (+4)

* Early: 9 (2 fumbles, 7 interceptions)

* Opponents: 13 (9 fumbles, 4 interceptions)