GAMES
RANKINGS
GAME RECAP: Vandegrift Rolls Into Postseason Undefeated
The Vandegrift Vipers defeated the Westwood Warriors 38-7 Friday night (11/3) at Monroe Memorial Stadium. The win not only knocked arguably the second-best team in District 25-6A out of the playoffs but diverted the Vipers onto the much more difficult 6A Division I path back to AT&T Stadium.
Having their beast season in years, the Warriors hung tough throughout the first half. The Vipers could only muster a Wiley Olson Field Goal and a 5-yard TD run by Brendan Fournier enroute to their narrowest halftime lead of the season at 10-0.
With Vandegrift’s defense shutting down highly touted Warriors RB Demani Stewart for most of the game however, the Vipers wore Westwood down in the second half. Deuce Adams (11-18, 174 Yds, TD) tossed a TD pass to Mile Coleman; Fournier (17-152, 3 TDs) rushed for two more scores while Kent Sullivan tacked on one more to post the Vipers to a 38-0 lead.
Stewart (27-92, TD) reached the end zone to avert the shutout, ending the Viper defense’s streak of almost 12 straight scoreless quarters.
While Vandegrift (10-0, 7-0) closed out an undefeated regular season with the win, they’ll be tested right out of the postseason gate with a first-round match-up against neighborhood rival – and 5-time State Champion – Lake Travis (8-2) on Friday.
Despite a 7-3 overall mark, the Warriors finished in a 4-way tie with Round Rock, Vista Ridge and McNeil at 4-3 in the district, missing the playoffs by virtue of the point differential tiebreaker.
THE RECAP: Vandegrift Vipers vs. Vista Ridge Rangers Football
When a program has only been around for 14 years, it doesn’t have many “old” rivals. However, for Vandegrift, Vista Ridge counts.
The Vipers brought the intensity to last Friday's contest, grinding down a tough Rangers defense to turn a 17 point halftime lead, before ultimately walking away with a 45-0 victory at Gupton Stadium.
Vandegrift's Miles Coleman (Sr. WR) spun out of a would-be tackle to turn a short hitch route into a 48-yard TD from Deuce Adams (Sr. QB). Following a 3-and-out, Adams connected with sophomore Brock Chilton to set the table for a Zaid Oliver to rush into the end zone from five yards out in order to extend the Vipers' lead.
Vista Ridge has struggled on offense all year, and with standout linebacker Grant Anderson moonlighting at quarterback for injured starter Jackson Arnot, the Rangers could had trouble getting anything going.
Coming into the matchup, the Vipers had averaged a mere 7.5 points per game, and they bolstered that stat-line by completing their second shutout of the season.
This would allow Vandegrift’s high octane offense to exploit the Rangers’ tiring defense in the second half, with Adams (17-226, 252 yds., 3 TDs) connecting on scoring strikes to Coleman and Brock Chilton (So. WR), while Brendan Fornier (Jr. RB) and Ben Emanuel each reached pay-dirt on the ground.
With the win, Vandegrift (9-0, 6-0) maintains their perfect season, and effectively clinched sole possession of the District 25-6A crown, which marks their sixth consecutive district title.
The Vipers will host the resurgent Westwood this Friday night on at Monroe Memorial Stadium. Vista Ridge (6-3, 3-3) travels to Dragon Stadium Friday for a critical game against Round Rock ahead of the upcoming postseason.