Vandals end their 2023 season with Area Championship game loss Nov. 17 to Aubrey, 35-14
DAVID BARBER
Hopes of moving on to the regional semifinal round of the Class 4A, Division 2, state football playoffs came to an end for the Van Vandals Nov. 17 as they lost to the Aubrey Chapparals, 35-14, in the Area Championship game at Royse City.
Coach Jared Moffatt’s Vandals closed out their 2023 campaign with an overall record of 8-4, a runner-up finish in District 8-4A, Division 2, and a Class 4A, Division 2, bi-district championship.
Aubrey, 9-3 overall, advanced to the regional semifinal round of the Class 4A, Division 2, state playoffs as they faced the Gilmer Buckeyes Nov. 24.
Against Aubrey, the Vandals finished with 15 first downs and 208 yards of total offense including 42 yards rushing and 166 yards passing.
Wide receiver Caden Rowe led the Vandal offense with five receptions for 96 yards and one touchdown. WR Easton Hinch caught four passes for 43 yards.
Van quarterback Jaxon Moffatt completed 13 out of 34 passes for 166 yards, one TD, and two interceptions.
Running back Austin Moffatt was the top rusher for the Vandals with 25 yards rushing on nine carries.
Vandal kicker Josh Christian made both of his extra point attempts as Van finished the season by converting successfully on all 56 extra point attempts for the 2023 season utilizing three different kickers.
Aubrey finished the contest with 252 yards of total offense including 218 yards rushing and 34 yards passing.
The Vandals got on the scoreboard first as a fumbled punt return by the Chapparals was recovered by Van’s Garrett Phillips at the Aubrey 22.
Three plays later, including two defensive penalties against Aubrey (offsides and face mask), RB Colton Miller powered into the end zone on a 3-yard TD run. Christian added the extra point giving the Vandals a 7-0 lead with 7:54 remaining in the first quarter.
Following an exchange of punts, Chapparal RB Tyler Brown stunned the Vandal defense with a 75-yard TD run on the final play of the first quarter. Brendon Hough added the extra point tying the game at 7-7 heading into the second quarter of play.
Van moved from its own 11 to the Aubrey 49 in 13 plays including pass completions from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe covering 12 and 15 yards in addition to a 14-yard run by Jaxon Moffatt but the Vandals were later forced to punt.
After a Chapparal punt, the Vandals had a first down at their own 32 when Jaxon Moffatt’s pass to Rowe was tipped and intercepted by Aubrey’s Hank Nokes and returned 37 yards for a TD. Hough added the extra point giving Aubrey a 14-7 lead with 2:32 remaining in the second quarter.
After a Vandal punt, Aubrey drove from its own 35 to the Van 31 in five plays including a 10-yard run by RB Emerson Cagle and a 10-yard pass completion from QB Brock Temple to WR Landon Martino before the first half clock expired.
Van’s first offensive play of the third quarter resulted in a turnover as Jaxon Moffatt’s fumble was recovered by Aubrey defensive tackle Xavier McCoy at the Vandal 20.
Two plays later, the Chapparals took full advantage of the turnover as Temple ran 12 yards for a TD. Hough added the extra point giving Aubrey a 21-7 advantage with 11:13 remaining in the third quarter.
The Vandals moved from their own 32 to the Aubrey 38 in five plays including a 33-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe but the scoring threat ended when Jaxon Moffatt’s pass was intercepted by Aubrey’s Randall Szostek and returned to the Vandal 45.
Eight plays later, Tyler Covington ended the 45-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard TD run. Hough added the extra point extending Aubrey’s lead to 28-7 with 4:52 to play in the third quarter. Key plays in the Chapparal scoring drive included a 12-yard run by Cagle (15 carries, 90 yards) and a critical roughing the passer penalty against the Vandals on fourth down.
Van moved from its own 23 to the Chapparal 37 in eight plays on its next offensive series including a 25-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Rowe but the drive stalled on fourth down and five as Jaxon Moffatt was sacked for a seven-yard loss giving the ball back to Aubrey.
After an Aubrey punt, the Vandals were stopped on fourth down and 16 as Jaxon Moffatt’s 12-yard pass completion to WR Austin Johnson again turned possession back over to the Chapparals.
Seven running plays later, QB Anthony Brumley ended Aubrey’s 38-yard scoring drive with a 1-yard TD run. Hough added the extra point giving the Chapparals a 35-7 lead with 5:13 remaining in the fourth quarter. Running gains of 10 yards by Brumley and 15 yards by Cagle were key plays in what turned out to be the final scoring march of the game for Aubrey.
Van’s final offensive possession of the season resulted in a TD drive as they moved 65 yards in 11 plays with Jaxon Moffatt connecting with Rowe to end the march with an 11-yard TD pass play. Christian added the extra point cutting Van’s deficit to 35-14 with 1:58 to play in the game. A 30-yard pass completion from Jaxon Moffatt to Hinch was a key play in the final scoring drive of the contest.
Following an unsuccessful onside kick attempt by the Vandals, Aubrey ran four offensive plays to run out the clock.
Seniors playing in their final game for the Vandals included Logan Fattig, Cannon Rainey, Austin Johnson, Luke Horton, Jackson Admire, Gabriel Bachert, Colton Miller, Tuff Arozamena, Anthony Skitt, Jake Campazano, Garrett Phillips, Reggie Johnson, Montrel Rogers, Colton Grier, Joe Ruiz, Bruce Shaw, Jose Suarez, Ace Bostick, and Trae Derrick.