After opening district with upset victory, Early seeks second straight league win at Clifton

October 16, 2025 at 6:30 am Derrick Stuckly

Cameron Love (33) gained 106 of the Longhorns’ 314 rushing yards last week against Tolar, as Early (2-4, 1-0) now averages 19 points and 265 yards per game {Photo courtesy of Mike Jones}

EARLY – The Early Longhorns sent shock waves throughout District 5-3A Division II last week with a 43-14 victory over defending league champion Tolar, and now look to thrust themselves squarely into the district championship mix as they visit the Clifton Cubs at 7 p.m. Friday.

Reflecting on the victory last week, Longhorns first-year head coach Marvin Wilson said, “They deserve success and went out and earned success last Friday. They played their tails off. We came in a big underdog and came out a big winner. We talk all the time about it doesn’t matter what other people think, what’s in that locker room is what matters. We played with passion and aggressiveness, and once we got up and going we were playing with a lot of enthusiasm.”

Early (2-4, 1-0) rushed for a season-high 314 of its 418 yards of total offense, along with five touchdowns, against Tolar.

“Our o-line went to work and when your running backs aren’t getting touched for 3, 4, or 5 yards, that’s a good night,” Wilson said. “We’ve got three or four running backs that are all different, but they can go and are not scared to lower a shoulder and go through a guy.”

For the season, the Longhorns are producing 19 points and 265 yards – 157 rushing and 108 passing – per game.

Leading the way on the ground are quarterback Caden Wilson (309 rushing yards, 5 TDs), along with Cameron Love (225 rushing yards, 1 TD), Isaac Ybarra (153 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and Stone Ratliff (122 rushing yards, 1 TD). Through the air, Wilson (48 of 94 for 649 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs) has targeted Andrew Reedy (20-333, 6 TDs), Ratliff (7-88, 1 TD), Brennen Rasor (6-91), Aiden Driskill (4-32) and Jaxson Stockman (4-21).

Defensively, the 14 points allowed by Early to the Tolar offense were the fewest in any game this season.

“We simplified things a little bit,” Wilson said. “We had some stuff on early that we thought could help us and it did help us, but we were having to think a little too much. We came off that and went back to the basics and just played ball. They got us a couple of times early in the game, but then we figured it out. Our corners also played the best they had all year. They got physical, they got aggressive, they made tackles, and never let anything outside. And the d-line were mashing kids, too.”

The Longhorns, who surrender 31 points on average for the season, are led defensively by Angel Marquez (64 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception), Brayden Schafer (60 tackles, 1 for loss), Mario Vasquez (34 tackles), Driskill (31 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack), Wilson (31 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception), Reedy (31 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 interception), Aaron Mendoza (30 tackles, 1 for loss), Rhett Williams (29 tackles, 2 for loss), and Weston Harrison (27 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack).

Clifton (5-1, 1-0) has lost just once this season, that coming at the hands of Hamilton (42-7), with victories over Riesel (27-0), Coleman (28-14), Italy (28-20), Blooming Grove (35-6), and Eastland (28-6). The four teams the Cubs own wins over, however, have combined for a 4-26 record.

In Clifton’s 28-6 win over Eastland last week, quarterback Jackson Ritz finished with 65 yards passing and a touchdown and 62 yards on the ground with another score. Eduardo Garcia caught the touchdown pass and Elyjah Rodriguez added another score on the ground.

For the season, Ritz (769 rushing yards, 9 TDs; 360 passing yards, 4 TDs, 2 INTs) spearheads the Cub offense with contributions from Judd New (259 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 12-80, TD receiving), Garcia (10-125, TD receiving), and Kaleb Wyly (5-98, 2 TDs receiving).

Defensively, Clifton – which has recorded 13 takeaways with five sacks – is led by Jared Ramirez (41 tackles, 9 for loss), Ritz (31 tackles, 4 for loss), Garcia (28 tackles, 3 for loss), Cade Zint (26 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack), Luis Galindo (21 tackles, 5 for loss, 1 sack), Rowdy Bishop (21 tackles, 2 for loss), and Zachary Sedberry (14 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries).

“Clifton is a good ball club and they’ve won more than they’ve lost,” Wilson said. “Their quarterback is a good player and he’s about about half of their run game. He’s got some speed and makes good decisions and throws the ball well. They have good receivers that can catch the ball and go get extra yards so we have to get after those guys. Offensively, we have to go get first downs and if you do that, eventually you end up in the end zone. We need to do that again this week. But if we can get after the quarterback, when your general is flustered the whole army struggles a little bit. If we can get him off his rocker a little bit, that will be a big help.”

Dave Campbell’s Texas Football lists the Longhorns as 21-point underdogs, while Harris Ratings Weekly says the game is a toss up.

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Early Longhorns 2025 Football Season Stats

Through 6 Games (2-4, 1-0)

TEAM OFFENSE

18.8 points per game (113)

264.6 yards per game (1,588)

156.5 rushing yards per game (939)

108.1 passing yards per game (649)

PASSING

* Caden Wilson

48 of 94 for 649 yards, 7 TDs, 4 INTs

RUSHING

* Caden Wilson

309 yards on 65 carries, 5 TDs

* Cameron Love

225 yards on 46 carries, 1 TD

* Isaac Ybarra

153 yards on 28 carries. 2 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

122 yards on 19 carries, 1 TD

* Brandon Walker

95 yards on 14 carries, 1 TD

* Andrew Reedy

35 yards on 1 carry

RECEIVING

* Andrew Reedy

20 catches, 333 yards, 6 TDs

* Stone Ratliff

7 catches for 88 yards, 1 TD

* Brennen Rasor

6 catches, 91 yards

* Aiden Driskill

4 catches, 32 yards

* Jaxson Stockman

4 catches for 21 yards

* Cameron Love

2 catches, 68 yards

* Brandon Walker

2 catches, 5 yards

* Aaron Mendoza

1 catch, 11 yards

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TEAM DEFENSE

31.1 points per game (187)

374.0 yards per game (1,496) – not including Hamilton, Tolar

211.0 rushing yards per game (844) – not including Hamilton, Tolar

163.0 passing yards per game (652) – not including Hamilton, Tolar

TACKLES

* Angel Marquez

64 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception

* Brayden Schafer

60 tackles, 1 for loss

* Mario Vasquez

34 tackles

* Aiden Driskill

31 tackles, 4 for loss, 1 sack

* Caden Wilson

31 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 interception

* Andrew Reedy

31 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 interception

* Aaron Mendoza

30 tackles, 1 for loss

* Rhett Williams

29 tackles, 2 for loss

* Weston Harrison

27 tackles, 3 for loss, 1 sack

* Brennen Rasor

23 tackles

*Logan Jackson

14 tackles, 2 for loss

* Jaxson Stockman

13 tackles, 1 interception

* Will Speck

12 tackles

* Kaden Burleson

11 tackles, 1 for loss

* Riley Barton

8 tackles

* Ben Wilson

7 tackles, 2 for loss, 1 sack

* Rhett Smith

7 tackles,1 for loss

* Isaac Ybarra

7 tackles

* Grant Stacks

6 tackles, 1 for loss

* Miguel Brunette

6 tackles

* Brandon Walker

5 tackles, 1 for loss

* Braedyn Peek

4 tackles, 1 for loss

* Dacorian McBride

4 tackles

* Skyden Stoddart

3 tackles

* Stone Ratliff

3 tackles

* Matthew Walker

2 tackles

* Cameron Love

1 tackle

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TURNOVER MARGIN (-4)

* Early: 8 (4 fumbles, 4 interceptions)

* Opponents: 4 (4 interceptions)