The Dauphin Clippers football team ended the Rural Manitoba Football League regular season with a 30-14 loss to the Swan Valley Tigers, Saturday in Dauphin.

The Clippers were missing some of their starters due to various reasons, which gave some rookies a chance to play.

“It gave a little bit of an opening for what we have next year,” said head coach Gerald Lopez, citing several players who played well throughout the game.

Julien Lopez led the defence with 12 tackles. Blake Thacker and Sly Fedorkiw had eight tackles each.

Julien Lopez ran the ball three times for 96 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown.

The Clippers ended the season in third place, with a 4-3 record, and will face the St. Vital Mustangs in the semifinals, Saturday in Winnipeg.

The Mustangs beat the Clippers in Dauphin, 55-54, Sept. 13, so Lopez expects another tight, close game.

“I think, not only our team, I think their team will be looking at our strong points as we’ll be looking at their strong points. So I think it will be a battle back and forth It will be a great game,” he said.