The Alcester-Hudson Cubs football team had their 2023 season come to an end in the quarterfinals of the 9A playoffs on Thursday, October 26th. The Cubs hosted the #7 seed Deubrook Dolphins, and the Dolphins advanced with a 14-10 win.
Neither team scored in the opening quarter. Deubrook scored first on a seven-yard touchdown pass and then made the two-point conversion in the second quarter. That was the only score of the quarter, and the Dolphins led 8-0 at halftime.
The Cubs tied the game in the third quarter. Jose Topete-Lopez had a six-yard touchdown run, and Mateo Kleinhans made the two-point conversion to tie the score 8-8. The Dolphin regained the lead later, 14-8, later in the quarter on a 47-yard touchdown run. The Alcester-Hudson defense did get a safety in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 14-10, but the Dolphins held for the upset win.
Alcester-Hudson had 255 yards of total offense, 136 rushing yards and 119 passing yards. The Dolphins finished with 220 yards of offense, 172 rushing yards and 48 passing yards.
Topete-Lopez had 12 carries for 53 yards and a touchdown. Kleinhans had 22 carries for 66 yards, and Evan Brown had eight carries for 17 yards. Kleinhans was 7-11 passing for 111 yards. Brown was 1-2 for eight yards. William Hallaway had two catches for 60 yards. Ethan Bovill had two catches for 28 yards, and Topete-Lopez had two catches for 23 yards. Brown finished with 7.5 tackles. Aidan Cole had 6.5 tackles. Topete-Lopez added 5.5 tackles, and Kleinhans had 4.5 tackles.
The Cubs finished the 2023 season with a 9-1 overall record.
