The Dublin Lions added orange to their uniforms Friday, Oct. 23 as they faced Clifton as respect for a lost leader.
Millsap Coach Jacob Johnson passed away earlier in the day after a three year battle with leukemia.
“He was a good Christian man and a good friend,” Dublin athletic director/head football coach Greg Hardcastle said, noting the two teams have faced off for several years.
Out of respect for the coach and his son, Braun, that several of the Dublin players know, players were presented orange ribbons and bands to wear in the game. (Orange is the color of leukemia awareness.)
The Lions fell 65-0 to Clifton in the away game with quarterbacks Daniel Velazquez and Joe Salinas passing for 67 and 56 yards respectively. Salinas led defense with 10 tackles followed by Kyler Gaitan with 6, Kyler Ivie and Jax Johnson with 5 each and Cayson Loving with 4.
The Lions return home this week with senior night festivities before the game at 6:25 p.m. Senior football players, Dandi-Lions, cheerleaders, band members and athletic trainers will all walk the field before the 7 p.m. kick- off.
Coach Hardcastle said the 4-4 Rio Vista like to run an on-front defense but has shown a variety of techniques in their offensive game. He added the team benefits from a skilled senior quarterback who started last year and a good running back that the Lions will have to contain to keep pace.
The Lions have several players on the injured list who they hope get healthy enough to take the field again. He also said that some JV players have shown some skill as they stepped under the Friday night lights. The team aims to build on that as they prepare for the next battle.