With Clifton Cubs drawing accolades in All-District 13-3A, DII selections, Finney, Parker, Galindo and Baggett receive superlative honors, eight named to first team
With making the playoffs always the expectation, not the goal, for the Clifton Cubs football program, the accomplishment of back-to-back trips to the Class 3A postseason gave the senior-laden squad plenty to celebrate for the 2023 Texas high school football season.
Reaping the rewards of success when the All-District 13-3A, Division II selections were announced last week, senior running back Parker Tunnell was named the Co-Offensive MVP, senior fullback-linebacker Riley Finney was named the Co-Defensive MVP, sophomore lineman Luis Galindo was named the Co-Defensive Newcomer of the Year, junior Brody Baggett was named the Utility Player of the Year, while eight Cubs drew all-district first-team honors.
“We were extremely proud of our kids and the recognition they received,” Clifton’s second-year head coach Brent Finney said. “For Parker and Riley to share both the offensive and defensive MVPs is quite an accomplishment. Tunnell ended the year with over 1,000 yards of offense and Finney had over 100 tackles on the season. And Luis had a great first year on the varsity. He started for us all year and was one of our best defensive and offensive lineman.”
“Brody was a guy that moved around and played many different positions for us. Offensively, he was a receiver and running back some, but also one of our best blockers as a tight end and wing back. Defensively, he played some outside linebacker, but also some defensive end. Again, we were very proud of our kids and how they performed.
By wrapping up third place in District 13-3A, Division II behind champion Rogers (5-0 in district, 9-4 overall) and runner-up Lexington (4-1, 9-4), the Cubs (3-2, 5-6) advanced to the Class 3A, Division II playoffs for the second straight season after missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons in 2020 and 2021.
With Finney leading the way as a two-way all-district, first-teamer, junior quarterback Joaquin De La Hoya, senior lineman Royer Lopez, Finney and Galindo were placed on the first-team offense, while senior defensive back Clay Kennedy, senior defensive back Ervin Rodriguez, senior linebacker Levi Knox along with Baggett made the defensive first team.
Clifton second-team selections included junior lineman Hunter Weir, senior lineman Brandon Evans, junior linebacker James Liardon and Rodriguez on offense, as well as Liardon, Lopez, Tunnell and junior defensive back Dylan Atkins on defense.
Drawing Honorable Mention recognition were freshman Alijah Calderon, junior Diego Rodriguez, senior Camdyn Mobley and junior Landon Knox.
Spearheading a strong ground game, Tunnell led the Cubs with 899 yards rushing and five touchdowns along with 14 catches for 108 yards, followed by Finney with 645 yards and nine scores. De La Hoya proved productive in the running game as well, rushing for 383 yards and six touchdowns while completing 46 of 104 passes for 583 yards and four scores.
Defensively, Finney topped Clifton with 104 total tackles, followed by Liardon with 68 tackles, a sack and two fumble recoveries, Rodriguez with 60 tackles and an interception, and Baggett with 47 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery, while Kennedy grabbed three interceptions.
Although 17 seniors will be lost to graduation this season, the Cubs will return a strong junior class, along with both the junior varsity and 7th grade teams winning the district titles, the Clifton football program has plenty to look forward to in the near future.
“We’re very proud of the third place finish and return to the playoffs,” Finney said. “We will definitely miss our seniors as they have provided great leadership over the past two or three years. But with 18 returning lettermen ready to step up, along with our 7th grade and JV team district championships, we are very excited about the future of Cub football.”
Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS
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