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Aidan Hernandez flees Fort Worth Christian opposition to score the first TD of the 2023 season in a 95-yard fumble recovery during the Thursday night season opener on the Dublin Secondary Bob & Norma Cervetto Field. Paul Gaudette | Citizen staff photo
It was a welcome sight to Dublin Lions fans when Aidan Hernandez scored the first TD of the 2023 season in the home game against Fort Worth Christian Thursday, Aug. 24.
His score came early in the third quarter when he retrieved a fumble made by the Cardinals near the end zone. Hernandez scooped up the pigskin and finding himself free, took off to the other end of the field.
The visitors quickly gave chase (and Lions followed to try to assist) but the Lion capitalized on the adrenaline and ran it home from nearly the entire length of the field.
The score energized the sidelines and the stands who had just been through a grueling first half in which Fort Worth scored 36 and the home team was left scoreless.
When the Lions followed the banners through the inflatable lion head gate into the third, it was obvious they were ready to fight. Fort Worth made passes but were stopped quick by Lion defenders. Then Hernandez made his score.
“We really picked it up on defense in second half,” said Dublin High School Athletic Director/ head football coach Greg Hardcastle. “They converted a couple of passes on us, but we came back. That second half is really something to build on as go into the season.”
Lions denied the visitors any more scoring through the third or fourth quarters (save for a third quarter TD that was brought back due to a penalty call on the Cardinals). Flags were plentiful in the season opener with the visiting team claiming more than its fair share across the entire game.
Although the Lions kept the Cards caged in the second half, they didn’t do it without a fight. Ayden Vargas, subbing in for Kaden Gaitan as quarterback, was brought down hard on a keeper play in the fourth and was slow to get back to his feet.
This led Aiden Salyer to step up as QB. He scored one more TD in that position as the line inched toward the goal line and he ran it over himself. This led to a 36-13 final score in the visitors’ favor.
Hardcastle praised Salyer and Fernando Esparza for keeping the pace up in play even in the final minutes of the game. He was also proud of a lot of his younger players, including some who were new to varsity, who progressed as the game went on.
“Our effort was good,” Hardcastle continued. “The offensive line did some really good things and was able to run the ball. That’s going to be key for us going down the road.”
“That’s the reason we play these non-district games,” he said. “They give us a measuring stick [for district play].”
The Lions have another test in front of them Friday night as they travel to face Albany. Going against a defending state champion team with a returning star player, Dublin will have a lot to prove but their bounce back Friday night showed they have the resolve to face any fight.
The Lions will return to the Cervetto Field on Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. as they face Anson in the 2023 Homecoming Game.