For Ripon High this was the final week for the rest of the 2023 season, we would see RHS football. JV and the Freshmen team made sure they went out with a bang as both teams beat Hughson in their final game. However, Varsity did not have the same level of success as they had lost to Hughson 26-55. 

Ripon had started off with their passing attack as QB, Ty Herrin, threw short checkoff passes. However after quickly seeing that it wasn’t working in our favor, RHS quickly switched to their ground attack. Unfortunately, their ground attack couldn’t pull through. On the defensive side of the ball, the team couldn’t stop the pass-heavy Hughson offense all night. Almost every drive that Hughson had the ball, they would score in the endzone. There were some good moments in the game however, as in the second half the offense was able to mount a couple of good drives and score 19 unanswered points. However with lack of good play by the defense, RHS was never able to catch up.

Herrin stated, “I’d love to give credit to Xzavier Clark and Owen Wilbur. We always put everything we can together; trying to come together as a unit. Austin Foster over here with a nice game ending touchdown, the whole football team, man, everyone was able to be there for each other and pick each other up.” 

The season didn’t have the good ending our players wished for. However, every team goes through its ups and downs and hopefully the JV and Freshman teams can help get Ripon back to a state championship.