Clemans family will have rooting interest Friday night

For Maricopa High quarterback Will Clemans, Friday’s game will be about more than a Homecoming victory and a chance to be 5-1 at home this season.

Clemans will be facing his cousin, Florence High quarterback Cash Clemans, for bragging rights when the two teams tangle at 7 p.m.

Heading into this family contest, Cash Clemans has passed for 1,012 yards. Will, meantime, has thrown for 641 yards. Maricopa comes into the contest at 4-4, with Florence sporting a 3-5 record.

In their respective games last week, Will Clemans threw for 180 yards and two TDs in a win over Santa Cruz Valley. Cash, meantime, tossed three TDs and threw for 246 yards as Florence topped Empire.

Will’s father and Cash’s uncle, Bill, said the entire family is excited to get the chance to see the boys play against each other.

Will and Cash were born just five days apart and have been close their entire life. Unfortunately they have never had the chance to play sports together because of where they lived, until now.

“Most of the family is coming to Maricopa to see the game,” Bill Clemans said.

Seating arrangements still haven’t been decided, but one family member is going to make sure their cheering is even.

“My mom (Will and Cash’s grandmother) is going to spend one half on each side,” Clemans said.

High school football has been a tradition for generations in the Clemans family, with the boys’ fathers and grandfather playing.

Maricopa is currently one game behind Florence in the league standings but has one more win for the season overall. The game is a must win for Will Clemans not only for bragging rights but also to keep the Rams in the playoff picture.

Expect the Clemans family to be happy one way or the other with the outcome.