DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

A 28-point explosion by the Gilmer Buckeyes in the third quarter proved to be too much for the Van Vandals to overcome Nov. 26 as the Buckeyes advanced to the Class 4A, Division II, regional finals with a 56-35 win in Tyler ending the Vandals’ season at 12-1.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals, the District 7-4A, Division II, champions, won 12 games in a season for only the fourth time in school history including victories in the bi-district and Area rounds of the Class 4A, Division II, state playoffs.

Gilmer advanced to the Class 4A, Division II, Regional Final where they took on their District 8-4A, Division II, rival, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, Dec. 3 in Mount Pleasant.

The Vandals finished the contest against Gilmer with 24 first downs and 454 yards of total offense including 189 yards rushing and 265 yards passing while the Buckeyes finished with 379 yards passing including 68 yards rushing and 311 yards passing.

A total of 21 seniors played in their final game for the Vandals Nov. 26 including quarterback Jackson Rainey, who registered 404 yards in total offense as he completed 18 out of 32 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, in addition to rushing for 139 yards on 23 carries and one TD.

Running back Alex Zifer had 12 carries for 46 yards and a TD while Brayden Bradshaw led the Vandal receivers with six receptions for 62 yards.

Gilmer QB Brandon Tennison completed 18 out of 26 passes for 311 yards and six TD’s against the Vandals.

“You always hate to lose in the playoffs and to know that your season is over,” summarized Moffatt. “It was a disappointing end to the season. I thought our kids did a lot of good things against Gilmer. We knew going in that Gilmer was a very good football team. They are a very talented team. They were a tremendous challenge and we knew that we would have to play extremely well in order to have a chance to win the game.”

Van received the opening kickoff and impressively got on the scoreboard first as they moved 52 yards in six plays with reserve RB Garrett Florey ending the march with a 1-yard TD plunge. Eli Hartman added the first of his five extra points giving the Vandals an early 7-0 advantage with 9:30 remaining in the first quarter. Key plays in the opening scoring drive for the Vandals included pass completions from Rainey covering 15 yards to Bradshaw and 10 yards to Zifer in addition to running gains of 12 and 13 yards by Rainey.

Gilmer needed only two plays on its initial offensive possession to tie the game as Tennison connected with wide receiver Parker Gilow (three receptions, 108 yards, two TD’s) on a 71-yard TD pass play. Jose Hernandez added the extra point for a 7-7 deadlock with 9:08 to play in the first quarter.

Following a poor nine-yard punt by the Vandals, the Buckeyes had excellent field position at the Van 27, but the Vandal defense rose to the occasion and shut down Gilmer without a first down as a fourth down and six pass play from Tennison to RB Ashton Haynes was incomplete ending the Buckeye scoring threat.

After an exchange of punts, the Vandals appeared to be on the verge of taking the lead as they moved from their own 29 to the Gilmer 9-yard line in seven plays including an 18-yard pass completion from Rainey to Zifer, a 19-yard run by Zifer and a defensive pass interference penalty against the Buckeyes.

On second down and eight, Rainey’s pass to the end zone intended for receiver Luca Kozhev was tipped and intercepted by Gilmer’s Tyson Wilson for a touchback ending the Vandal scoring threat.

Following a Gilmer punt, the Vandals took the lead as they moved 69 yards in four plays as Rainey ended the drive by outracing the Gilmer defense down the sideline on a 60-yard TD run. Hartman added the extra point giving Van a 14-7 advantage with 9:13 remaining in the second quarter.

Gilmer again responded to tie the game with a 65-yard scoring drive in seven plays as Tennison ended the march by connecting with Gilow on a 30-yard TD pass play. Hernandez added the extra point as the two teams were once again deadlocked at 14-14 with 7:10 to play in the second quarter. A 21-yard pass completion from Tennison to WR Rohan Fluellen was a key play in the scoring drive for the Buckeyes.

After a Vandal punt, the Buckeyes took the lead for the first time as they moved 60 yards in five plays. Tennison connected with WR Jay Rockwell (four receptions, 93 yards, three TD’s) on a 27-yard TD pass completion to end the march. Hernandez added the extra point giving Gilmer a 21-14 lead with 4:04 remaining before halftime.

An exchange of punts followed before the first half of play ended with the Vandals possessing the ball at their own 13.

Van’s defense came through with a forced turnover early in the third quarter as Tennison fumbled behind the line of the scrimmage on a QB sack. A mad scramble for possession resulted in the Vandals recovering the loose ball at the Gilmer 26.

Four plays later, on fourth down and four, Rainey’s pass was tipped, but this time, the ball ended up in the hands of Kozhev for a 20-yard TD pass play. Hartman added the extra point to tie the game at 21-21 with nine minutes to play in the third quarter.

Gilmer responded by re-taking a lead they would not give up again as the Buckeyes advanced 61 yards in four plays with Tennison ending the drive as he connected on a 39-yard TD pass play to Rockwell. Hernandez added the extra point giving the Buckeyes a 28-21 advantage with 7:36 remaining in the third quarter.

After a disastrous 1-yard punt by the Vandals, the Buckeyes had excellent field position at the Van 23. Four plays later, on fourth down and eight, Tennison again connected with Rockwell, this time on a 21-yard TD pass play. Hernandez added the extra point giving Gilmer a 35-21 lead with 5:47 to play in the third quarter.

On Van’s next offensive play, it was another bad moment in the game for Van on first down at the Vandal 29 when Rainey’s fumble was picked up by Gilmer outside linebacker Omero Orona and returned 25 yards for a TD. Hernandez added the extra point giving Gilmer a sudden 42-21 advantage with still 5:30 remaining in the third quarter as the Buckeyes scored three TD’s in a two-minute stretch of the third quarter.

“Outside of about three minutes in the third quarter, we played really well at times,” recalled Moffatt. “It was hard for us to recover after we were put in a huge hole. I am so proud of this team. They continued to battle throughout and play hard.”

The Vandals refused to give up as they came right back with a 71-yard scoring drive in seven plays as Zifer ended the march with a 4-yard TD run. Hartman added the extra point cutting Van’s deficit to 42-28 with 3:41 to play in the third quarter. Key plays in the Vandal scoring drive included two personal foul penalties against Gilmer and a 29-yard pass completion from Rainey to Kozhev.

Following a failed onside kick attempt by the Vandals, the Buckeyes moved 49 yards in three plays to extend their lead as RB Ladaylon Jackson (13 carries, 74 yards) raced 34 yards for a TD. Hernandez added the extra point giving Gilmer a 49-28 lead with 2:33 still to play in the third quarter. Jackson also had a 10-yard run in the scoring drive for the Buckeyes.

Van moved from its own 26 to the Gilmer 40 in six plays including a 26-yard pass completion from Rainey to receiver Ryder Shoquist (three receptions, 53 yards) but on fourth down and three at the Buckeye 40, Rainey’s pass to Kozhev was incomplete ending the Vandal scoring threat.

The Buckeyes then moved 60 yards in five plays which resulted in another scoring drive as Tennison connected with Fluellen (four receptions, 70 yards) on a 37-yard TD pass play. Hernandez added the extra point giving Gilmer a 56-28 lead over the Vandals with 9:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. A 13-yard pass completion from Tennison to Haynes was a key play in what turned out to be the final scoring drive for the Buckeyes.

Van responded with their final scoring drive of the season as they advanced 73 yards in eight plays. The drive ended with a 24-yard TD pass play from Rainey to receiver John Crow (five receptions, 73 yards). Hartman added the extra point cutting Van’s deficit to 56-35 with 6:59 remaining in the game.

Following a Buckeye punt, Van’s final offensive series of the 2021 season began at its own three-yard line.

Seven plays later, including pass completions from Rainey covering 29 yards to Crow and 16 and 11 yards each to Shoquist, the Vandals faced fourth down and three at the Buckeye 31, but the scoring threat ended as Rainey’s pass to Shoquist was incomplete allowing Gilmer to run out the clock.

Moffatt said that Gilmer is definitely in contention now for the Class 4A, Division II, state championship especially since defending state champion and current number one team in the state, Carthage, was upset by China Spring Nov. 26.

“I think Gilmer has a good a chance to win it as anybody else that is left,” said Moffatt. “Gilmer matches up well with their next opponent, Texarkana Pleasant Grove. You can’t count out teams like China Spring and Celina. Gilmer has a lot of weapons offensively and defensively.”

Seniors playing in their final game for the Vandals included Reed Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Luca Kozhev, K. D. Erskine, Jackson Rainey, Ryder Shoquist, Mason Moffatt, Cayden Mitchell, John Crow, Braxton Beall, Jon Richardson, Alex Zifer, John Huss, Kaison Stanford, Ian Pena, Omar Hernandez, Kameron Reed, Spencer Shinn, Will Braswell, Addison Manley and Antwone Green.

Moffatt also expressed his appreciation to those who turned out in Tyler Nov. 26 to support the Vandals against Gilmer.

“We had a great crowd in Tyler,” said Moffatt. “I don’t know how many people were there, but I do know that the seating capacity is in the area of 10,000 to 11,000. Our team had a great experience there. We were one of 16 teams still playing in Class 4A, Division II, on Friday afternoon. It was a great atmosphere, great weather. I was really appreciative of our crowd. They were loud. I think we had more people there than Gilmer had.”