VYPE Central Texas Game of the Week Preview: Vandegrift vs. Dripping Springs
No, we didn’t just re-run the same article as last year when we also picked Vandegrift vs. Dripping Springs as our first VYPE Central Texas Game of the Week of 2025. Yet, we’d again be hard-pressed to pick a better game on the opening week docket than this one. (Honorable Mention goes to what used to be the Taco Shack Bowl -- now known as the “Shoal Creek Showdown” -- between Anderson and McCallum on Thursday night, 8/28).
Let’s start with the obvious: Coach Drew Sanders’ Vipers are the defensing 6A Division II state champions. And few teams have challenged Vandegrift in recent years quite like Dripping Springs, a program that’s slowly rising up the 6A power charts the way they used to populate 5A. (And credit where credit’s due to Cedar Park for outlasting Vandy in double overtime last year; the only blemish on a 15-1 record.)
Vandegrift has rebounded to win 3-straight in this series, starting with their playoff rematch in 2022 after losing on a walk-off field goal to open that year’s campaign. But this year’s game is in the Hill Country where the atmosphere will be electric and the target on the Vipers’ backs will be pulsing in maroon and gold.
Senior Kansas State commit Miles Teodecki (3,256 yards passing, 48 TDs) will again command the Vandegrift offense after packing nearly two years’ experience into one 16-game season last year. He’ll have weapons to throw to – Brock Chilton and Gavin Koester – and fresh legs in the backfield in Justin Moore taking over from graduated Brendan Fournier. And for a change, Vandegrift doesn’t have to completely rebuild their offensive line, with three starters back for more.
Like last year, the Vipers graduated a ton of defensive experience with only three starters back. Last year’s squad found its way after that loss to Cedar Park. We’ll see if this year’s unit follows suit.
Dripping Springs has been a very good team for several years; this year’s edition of the Tigers hopes to shift into high gear and become a great team. Coach Galen Zimmerman’s squad will have to do it with a new quarterback as senior Mateo Perez and/or junior Chase Ames look to take over from the graduated Maddox Maher. Whichever one wins the battle will have an enticing target in Arizona State commit Cooper Reid.
Linebacker Dylan Brasher will anchor a veteran defense which should give the Tigers’ offense a chance to mature and sort itself out.
This year marks the fourth straight year Vandegrift and Dripping Springs will meet to open the season. There’s also a very real possibility that they’ll meet sometime in the post-season. Coaches say to take it one game at a time, so let’s all enjoy what should be a great season opener.
What: Vandegrift vs. Dripping Springs
When: 7:00 Pregame, 7:30 Kickoff
Where: Tiger Stadium, Dripping Springs HS
Who: Merle Bertrand, Matt Sanders
Watch: https://www.vype.com/7pm-football-vandegrift-vs-dripping-springs-2673891245 OR https://vypelive.com/web/g/15962
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