DAVID BARBER

davidb@vanzandtnews.com

Impressive individual and team numbers were turned in by the Van Vandals during the 2021 varsity football season.

Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals finished the 2021 campaign with an overall record of 12-1 that included a District 7-4A, Division II, Championship; a Class 4A, Division II, Bi-District Championship; a Class 4A, Division II, Area Championship; and an appearance in the Class 4A, Division II, Regional Semifinals.

The 2021 Vandals, featuring 21 seniors who played in their final game Nov. 26 against the Gilmer Buckeyes, became only the fourth team in school history to win 12 football games in one season.

Offensively, the Vandals executed 776 offensive plays, made 273 first downs, and registered 5,703 yards of total offense including 2,921 yards rushing and the 2,782 yards passing. Van scored 560 points during the season.

The per game averages for Van during their 13-game season were as follows: 59.7 offensive plays, 21 first downs, and 438.7 yards of total offense including 224.7 yards rushing and 214 yards passing. The Vandals averaged 43.08 points per game.

Van was penalized 64 times during the 2021 season for an average of 4.93 penalties per game and committed 10 turnovers (five fumbles, five pass interceptions) for an average of 0.77 turnovers per game.

Individually, quarterback Jackson Rainey had a standout senior season as he completed 173 out of 276 passes (63 percent) for 2,782 yards, 41 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Rainey was also the leader in Van’s running game as he carried the ball 158 times for 1,325 yards, an 8.3 yards per carry average, and 14 TD’s. Rainey’s total offensive numbers were 4,107 yards and 55 TD’s.

Other leading rushers for the Vandals included Alex Zifer, who finished the season with 164 carries for 1,090 yards, a 6.6 yards per carry average, and 10 TD’s.

Garrett Florey ran 50 times for 220 yards, a 4.4 yards per carry average, and eight TD’s, while Demarcus Stinnett had 48 carries for 267 yards, a 5.7 yards per carry average, and two TD’s.

Luca Kozhev led the Vandal receivers with 64 receptions for 1,087 yards, a 17-yard average per reception, and 21 TD’s. His 21 TD receptions set a school record.

Brayden Bradshaw caught 42 passes for 595 yards, a 14.2 yard average per reception, and six TD’s.

Ryder Shoquist caught 23 passes for 448 yards, a 19.5 yard average per reception, and six TD’s.

John Crow caught 21 passes for 319 yards, a 15.2 yard average per reception, and six TD’s, while Zifer caught 15 passes for 162 yards, a 10.8 yard average per reception.

Defensively, the Vandals were led in total tackles by Beau Barton with 150, followed by Florey with 93, Braydon Hullum with 90; Ryan Johnson with 81; Mason Moffatt and K. D. Erskine with 80 each; Colton Miller with 70; Reed Parish with 65; Reed Johnson with 61; Wyatt Dale with 60; Cayden Mitchell with 53; and Logan Fattig with 24.

Barton also led the Vandals in tackles for losses with 33 followed by Erskine with 28, and Hullum with 13.

Mason Moffatt was the leader defensively in quarterback sacks with 10 followed by Barton and Erskine with nine each.

Erskine caused three fumbles to lead the Vandal defense followed by Bradshaw, Florey, and Hullum with one each.

QB pressures were led by Erskine with 25, Kaison Stanford with 19, and Barton with 16.

Miller led the Vandal defense in fumble recoveries with three followed by Bradshaw, Florey, Mitchell, Dale, Mason Moffatt and Fattig with one each.

Reed Johnson, Parish, Florey, Ryan Johnson, Barton and Hullum had one interception each to lead the Vandals in that category.

In the category of batted passes/pass breakups, Parish led the Vandal defense with 11 followed by Florey with 10, and Reed Johnson, Mitchell, Barton, and Erskine with six each.

Jared Moffatt, in his 12th season at Van, reached a coaching milestone during the 2021 season as he won his 100th game as head coach of the Vandals Oct. 29, in a thrilling 55-54 win over the Canton Eagles in Canton. His current overall coaching record at Van is 103-39.