DAVID BARBER

Sports Correspondent

Winning streaks will be on the line when the undefeated Van Vandals host the Brownsboro Bears, winners of four games in a row, in a battle that will determine the District 7-4A, Division II, champion in the final regular season game for both squads.

Kickoff for the district championship showdown at Van’s Memorial Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5.

The Vandals, 9-0 overall and 3-0 in district play, are coming off a down-to-the-wire 55-54 victory over the Canton Eagles (5-4, 1-2) in Canton as Vandal Head Football Coach Jared Moffatt captured his 100th head coaching win at Van High School.

Van is currently ranked 10th in the state in Class 4A, Division II, by Dave Campbell’s Texas Football Magazine.

Brownsboro (5-4, 3-0) will enter Van’s Memorial Stadium riding high with a four-game winning streak under first-year head coach Lance Connot after being picked to finish last in the district race by the same publication prior to the start of the 2021 regular season.

“As big as last Friday night’s in Canton was to win, this game against Brownsboro is even bigger with the district championship being on the line this Friday night (Nov. 7),” pointed out Moffatt. “Brownsboro has done an outstanding job this year under Coach Connot. They have been playing with a ton of confidence and playing well. They have gotten better each week under a completely different system. It takes time to make that adjustment but their improvement this season has been by leaps and bounds. You have to give them credit for what they have been able to accomplish in such a short period of time. Their kids are playing real hard on both sides of the ball. This should be a great ballgame Friday night.”

The Bears are a passing team offensively, according to Moffatt. “They have been throwing the ball a tone,” emphasized Moffatt. “Their quarterback has been playing great. They have a great receiving weapon who makes big plays every week offensively and defensively as well. He is just a sophomore. Their running backs are running hard. Their offensive line is playing well.”

Defensively, the Bears’ defensive coordinator is the father of the head coach at Brownsboro.

“Brownsboro has shown multiple fronts and they are playing hard with tremendous effort,” said Moffatt. “We are now moving from one rivalry game in Canton to another rivalry game here this week against Brownsboro. It will be Senior Night here and the final regular season game for both teams. A district championship is on the line. We should have a big crowd here Friday night. It should be a great atmosphere for high school football.”

The sub-varsity schedule for the 2021 season will conclude Thursday, Nov. 4, when the Vandals and the Bears meet in the freshmen and junior varsity games in Brownsboro with kickoff for the freshmen game set for 5 p.m. followed by the J. V. contest.

Van will host Brownsboro in the junior high games Thursday, Nov. 4, beginning at 4:30 p.m. at Van’s Memorial Stadium.

In addition to the Van/Brownsboro district championship showdown Friday, Nov. 5, the other district finale in District 7-4A, Division II, will be played in Mexia as the Canton Eagles visit the Mexia Black Cats (2-7, 1-2) with third and fourth place in the district race on the line.

The Bullard Panthers concluded their 2021 regular season schedule winless at 0-10 and have been eliminated from any post-season possibilities after falling to Mexia at home, 57-53, last Friday night at Bullard.

The four state playoff representatives from District 7-4A, Division II, that includes Van, Brownsboro, Canton, and Mexia will meet representatives from District 8-4A, Division II, that includes Gilmer, Texarkana Pleasant Grove, Liberty-Eylau and Pittsburg, in the bi-district round of the Class 4-A, Division II, state playoffs next week at sites and times yet to be determined.

The winner of the Van/Brownsboro game Nov. 5 will meet the loser of the Liberty-Eylau/Pittsburg, and vice-versa, in the bi-district round of the state playoffs next week.

The winner of the Canton/Mexia contest will take on the loser of the Gilmer/Texarkana Pleasant Grove game, and vice-versa, next week in the bi-district round of the Class 4A, Division II, state playoffs next week as well.

For results of the Van/Brownsboro district championship showdown as well as a preview of Van’s Class 4A, Division II, bi-district game contest, check out www.vanzandtnews.com.