Churchill Holds Off Clark in 33–28 Gucci Bowl Thriller

SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Churchill finally broke into the win column Thursday night, holding off Clark 33–28 at Heroes Stadium in a back-and-forth Gucci Bowl matchup.

The Chargers entered the District 28-6A opener at 0–3, while Clark was also searching for its first victory of the season. By the final whistle, Churchill had earned its first win of 2026 and moved to 1–3 overall and 1–0 in district play.

Churchill came out firing, jumping to a 14–0 lead in the first quarter behind the play of senior quarterback Jayden Garcia. Clark answered with two touchdowns in the second quarter to pull even at 14–14, turning the rivalry matchup into a tightly contested battle.

Garcia remained in control of the Churchill offense throughout the night. He completed 21 of 30 passes for 221 yards and five touchdowns, finding multiple receivers for scores as the Chargers continued to respond whenever Clark threatened.

Clark quarterback R. Orozco put together an impressive performance of his own. Orozco completed 19 of 34 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns, while wide receiver E. Johnson finished with seven receptions for 151 yards and two touchdowns.

After Clark tied the game at 14–14, the teams continued trading momentum. Churchill took a 21–14 advantage into halftime before Clark answered again, keeping the Cougars within striking distance.

The fourth quarter ultimately decided the game. Garcia connected on two touchdown passes in the final period, helping Churchill maintain its lead despite another Clark push. Clark scored late to cut the deficit to five points, but Churchill recovered an onside kick and was able to run out the remaining clock.

The victory also gave Churchill its first district win of the season. The Chargers entered the game having dropped their first three contests against Medina Valley, Clemens and Kerrville Tivy.

For Clark, the loss dropped the Cougars to 0–4 overall and 0–1 in District 28-6A. Despite the defeat, Orozco and the Clark passing attack kept the game competitive until the final minutes.

Churchill will now turn its attention to another district matchup against Reagan on Oct. 2, while Clark will look to bounce back against Madison.

Final: Churchill 33, Clark 28