History repeated itself for Ripon Christian on Friday.

With three of their best players out with injuries, the Knights were unable to hold a fourth-quarter lead against unbeaten Hughson in a bitter 28-21 Trans-Valley League defeat.

Bryce McDaniel made a difficult catch in the end zone for the game-winning 22-yard touchdown with 6.5 seconds left. Older brother Robert McDaniel, who has committed Arizona, struggled with inaccuracy throughout the game but came through in big moments, finishing with three touchdown completions.

It’s the second straight week Hughson (2-0 TVL, 5-0 overall) left Ripon with a victory thanks to a fourth-quarter surge. The Huskies were across the street last week and raced away from a game Ripon High squad, 28-7.

“The gauntlet’s here. It’s here in the TVL,” Hughson coach Shaun King said. “Glad to come out with a ‘W.’ Hats off to Ripon Christian. That’s one heck of a team, and they definitely deserve to be in the TVL.”

These small-school heavyweights previously squared off in the 2022 Division V-AA NorCal Bowl Game, and Hughson came from behind against to stun the injury-depleted RC squad and went on to claim a state title.

Now a member of the grueling TVL, the Knights (0-2, 2-3) must navigate the rest of their schedule without two-way standout Trevor Van Elderen (knee). In addition, flyback/defensive back Carson Cho is sidelined with a broken collarbone, and Amos Cady — a big-time producer in all three phases of the game — sprained an ankle in the first half on Friday and did not return to action.

“Those are our three fastest guys, but you can’t make excuses,” RC coach Phil Grams said. “Our kids played tough. We had the ball up a score, and we didn’t execute.”

The Knights ultimately had no answer for Hughson’s impressive skill players.

Robert McDaniel hit 6-foot-3 Malakai Sumter (three receptions, 71 yards; 15-yard run) in stride for a 43-yard touchdown on fourth-and-19, tying it at 21-21 midway through the fourth quarter. Sumter also had an interception on defense.

The Huskies forced a three-and-out on defense and started the game-winning drive on their own 33-yard line with 4:05 remaining.

“In the TVL, when you have two chances and you don’t get it done, you’re going to lose the ballgame,” Grams said. “These are very good teams we’re playing. We could get away with it with the competition we had in the past; you can’t get away with it anymore. They do a great job. We’re not as deep as them, and just didn’t have enough tonight.”

Robert McDaniel finished 10-of-22 passing for 203 yards and an interception. His 6-4 sibling caught four of those passes for 110 yards. Running back Eli Wilbanks balanced Hughson’s attack with 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.

“We knew we had the height advantage and the athletes,” King said. “It just took us a while. It’s just one of those things.”

The first hookup between the McDanielses may go viral, and it provided a needed spark for Hughson early on.

Facing third-and-14 while trailing 7-0 going into the final minute of the opening quarter, Robert slightly under threw a deep to his brother down the right sideline, who was well covered by Mason Tameling. With both players jumping for the ball, Bryce McDaniel managed to reach around Tameling to tip the ball up to himself and come down with it without breaking stride heading into the end zone.

McDaniel’s game-winner was also a tough snag with Tameling in coverage. Tameling, Ripon Christian’s quarterback, had to take on defensive duties because of the injuries.

“We’ve been talking about putting him at defensive back, because he’s a good athlete,” Grams said. “They picked on him a little bit, and he perfectly defended those passes there. He’s feeling down on himself, but he played great.”

Offensively, Tameling completed 10 of 20 passes for 102 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He linked up with tight end Isaiah Vander Woude (three catches, 22 yards) for a 5-yard touchdown late in the second quarter and a 14-7 lead that the Knights carried into halftime.

Running back Lushen Sanders gave Ripon Christian its final lead at 21-14 early in the fourth quarter with a hard-earned, 2-yard run on fourth down. The 5-11, 185-pound junior ended with 68 yards on 12 carries.

The Knights managed to win time of possession even without their top playmakers. Receiver Daniel Lambdin (four receptions, 33 yards) and RB Blake Stuit (10 rushes, 33 yards; 17-yard reception) also came up with some big plays.

Linebacker Chase Bunnell highlighted the defense with an interception.

“We didn’t have to prove anything to ourselves,” Grams said. “We know we have good guys, we know that we’re always going to compete and grind with anybody.

“I think the TVL knows that this is a good football program, so we didn’t have anything to prove to them either. Our guys are good and getting better, and you’re always going to get efforts like this no matter whom they play.”