Ripon High put together a solid second-half effort Friday against visiting Hughson.

But that wasn't enough as the Huskies secured third place in the Trans-Valley League with a 55-26 win.

The loss ended the season for the Indians (1-4 TVL, 3-7 overall).

"It's been a tough season," said Ripon coach Chris Musseman. "I was happy at how hard we played.

"Why couldn't we do that every week?"

The Indians responded by mounting a strong ground game led by senior running back Xzavier Clark, who reeled off a 35-yard gain on the drive, scoring moments later from 15 yards out.

Later in the third quarter, he capped off another drive with a 7-yard run.

Clark finished with a game-high 157 yards on 23 carries.

The night belonged to reigning Division V-AA state champion Hughson led by stellar junior quarterback Robert McDaniel, who completed 26 of his 36 passes for 452 yards while throwing for seven TDs.

He relied on standout receivers such as David Delgado, Larkin Meyer, and Malakai Sumter.

McDaniel threw for five first-half scores.

He connected with Delgado on a 22 yarder, Meyer on a 33-yard strike, Cesar Ramos on a 5-yard toss, and Sumter on scores of 22- and 16- yards.

Ripon's lone first-half score came on Brett Shaw's 86-yard catch-and-run from quarterback Ty Herrin that occurred midway in the second quarter.

McDaniel, in the second half, delivered on a 42-yard bomb to Bryce McDaniel and 60-yard strike to Meyer. He capped off his evening by plowing into the end zone on a short run.

Ripon's final play was Austin Foster celebrating Senior Night with a 51-yard gallop to pay dirt as time expired.